Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar said Virat Kohli is an integral member of the Indian team across all formats and him returning to peak form will help captain Rohit Sharma when it comes to the team combination. Agarkar said Kohli’s lean patch is indeed a cause for concern.
Kohli has not hit an international hundred since November 2019 and his lean patch, especially in Test cricket has come under the scanner. The star batter averaged 28.21 last year, scoring just 536 runs across 19 innings. However, Kohli showcased signs of a return to form with 2 fifties in the recently-concluded 3-match series in South Africa.
Kohli got starts but was not able to convert them into big scores as his long wait for a three-figure score conttinues.
Having quit captaincy across all formats, Kohli will be looking to contribute to the team with his bat and Agarkar said it will be good for the team if the former skipper finds his form sooner than later.
“At the end of the day you’re only successful as successful your team is and if you don’t win, it eventually doesn’t matter how great a player you are out on the field, it’s not enjoyable playing in the team,” Agarkar told Star Sports’ show ‘Game Plan’.
“We talk about different combinations before – Kohli would be a key factor because of the kind of player that he is but at the moment he isn’t at his best, which is a fact and the quicker he discovers his form it’s going to be that much easier for Rohit Sharma to then manage that thing because of what he can do on his own, Kohli.
“Virat Kohli’s form is a concern, but we all know what a player he is. So, hopefully, he discovers his form sooner rather than later,” he added.
