Kohli Wants To Concentrate On Tests To Get Tendulkar’s Record Of 100 Tons: Hogg
Hogg said on his YouTube channel that Kohli's decisions have a bigger picture and not the pressure to lead across formats
Mumbai: Ex-Australia spinner Brad Hogg has said Virat Kohli is giving up T20I and RCB captaincy to focus on Test cricket and break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international hundreds. According to Hogg, Kohli is well aware that he needs to taste greater success in the longer format to be remembered as one of the greats.
After earlier announcing that he would step down from the T20I captaincy, Kohli on Sunday confirmed that he will also step down as RCB captain at the end of this year’s IPL season. Also Read: Rohit Should Play Next Game, Hardik Had Niggle, Nothing Serious: Jayawardena
Hogg said on his YouTube channel that Kohli’s decisions have a bigger picture and not the pressure to lead across formats.
The former left-arm spinner said: “He has stepped down from the international position of T20 captain and also RCB. It is a bigger picture where he is focusing on the longer format of the game. He wants to lead India in Test cricket and ODIs. But he also has a record in his eyes – trying to achieve Tendulkar’s record of 100 international hundreds.”
Elaborating on his views about Kohli’s focus going ahead, Hogg added: “He is doing well with Sachin in ODIs, currently scoring 43 centuries. But he has scored only 27 centuries in Tests. Tendulkar scored 51 centuries in 200 matches. I think Kohli wants to focus on Test cricket and match Tendulkar’s record of scoring 50 Test centuries under his belt. He also wants to be one of the greats. I think that’s where Kohli is going.”
According to Hogg, Kohli is fine as an ODI captain but feels the batsman can skip T20Is altogether after the 2022 World Cup. Hogg explained:
“I think it’s great that he is out of a T20 role. The ODI team is not much different from the Test team. You need a different captain for the T20 format, but I think he should still be captain in the 50-over format.”
He added: “Don’t think Kohli will play much T20 cricket after the next World Cup (2022). He might give it up to concentrate on Tests and one-dayers. Remember he has got a new family, there are a lot of bio-bubble security issues and players are stressed out in those scenarios. That might lead Kohli to not play T20 cricket in a couple of years’ time.”
Kohli has 3159 runs to his name from 90 T20Is at a strike rate of 139.04 with a best of 94 not out.
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