World Test Championship Is The Biggest ICC Tournament, Says Virat Kohli
Published - 19 Feb 2020, 01:23 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
India skipper Virat Kohli has called the ongoing ICC Test Championship as the biggest ICC tournament. The world number one ODI and Test batsman’s comments have come in the wake of revelations that the game’s governing body is planning to have more flagship white ball tournaments during the next eight-year cycle from 2023-2031.
Virat Kohli’s comments will be a big setback for ICC who are trying to convince their member bodies to agree to the new changes. According to ICC’s proposed 2023-2031 Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle, a proposed T20 Champions Cup is earmarked for 2024 and 2028 and an ODI Champions Cup in 2025 and 2029, alongside the T20 World Cups in 2026 and 2030, and the ODI World Cups in 2027 and 2031.
“I think World Test Championship as an ICC tournament should be right up there. All the other tournaments for me they start under that. This is probably the biggest of them all as every team wants to make it to the final at the Lord’s. We are no different. “We are in that zone. We want to make sure that we qualify as soon as we can and be in that frame of mind to hopefully win that (championship),” said the Indian skipper ahead of first Test against New Zealand from Friday.
Under Virat Kohli, India have definitely prioritized Tests. India are at the top of the Test rankings for more than three years now and are also at the top of the ICC Test Championship points table with 360 points from seven games. India have won all of their seven games in the Championship so far.
Virat Kohli further said that World Test Championship has added a context to the traditional format making the contests more exciting with points on offer.
“It has made Test cricket more exciting and that’s something we have experienced as a side although we haven’t had too many games away from home. Couple of games in the West Indies and we haven’t had a tour of Australia as a part of Test Championship. This is our first away tour since the start of home season,” said Virat Kohli.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Drops Big Hint About India’s Playing XI For First New Zealand Test
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ICC World Test Championship India National Cricket Team New Zealand vs India 2020 Virat Kohli
