We Wanted First-Class Games But Haven’t Been Given: Virat Kohli Ahead Of England Tests
While India won't play the first-class fixture before the Test series, they are scheduled to play an intra-squad fixture from July 28 to 31
Mumbai: Virat Kohli has revealed that Team India had demanded first-class matches ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against England, but their demand was not met. India was short on match practise before the WTC final and they hadn’t played a red-ball game since the home series against England.
With the India-England Test series starting on August 4, he will be away from competitive cricket for over a month. So will India play county matches before the series?
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Responding to this question, Kohli revealed that he had asked for a first-class match but it would not happen. He said, “It is not up to us. We wanted a first-class match but it was not given, I don’t know the reason. We have enough time for the first Test, we should be ready for it.”
While India won’t play the first-class fixture before the Test series, they are scheduled to play an intra-squad fixture from July 28 to 31.
There is more than a month left in the series and India has a lot of time to prepare for it. India has not beaten England at home since 2007. The last time India toured England (in 2018), the Kohli-led side lost 1-4 to Joe Root.
The India-England five-match Test series will kick off on August 4, with the first Test taking place in Nottingham. Lord’s will host the 2nd Test from August 12 to 16. The third Test will be played in Leeds from August 25 to 29. London will host the 4th Test from September 2 to 6. The fifth and the final Test match will be played in Manchester, from September 10.
Following the five-match Test series, the Indian players will land in UAE for the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
Meanwhile, Kohli’s wait to lead India to an ICC title victory extended as New Zealand chased down the target of 139 to clinch the World Test Championship title.
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