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2 days ago
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Virat Kohli of india react after play a shot during day 3 of the 2nd Test Match between India and New Zealand held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India on the 26th October 2024. (Sportzpics)
Former South Africa player AB de Villiers said that Virat Kohli will be missed in Test cricket, adding that the Indian player will leave behind a great legacy in the longest format. He also said that the Indian team led by Shubman Gill can achieve something exceptional in England if they believe in themselves.
Earlier this month, Kohli retired as India’s fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket, having scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 matches. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His annual average never dipped below 55 in the four years between 2016 and 2019. Additionally his calendar year average at the end of 2016 and 2017 were both above 75.
“He followed his gut feel. I think he has done a lot for cricket around the world over the years. Luckily, we’ll still see him on the cricket field. He will be missed in Test matches, there is no doubt about it, but he leaves (behind) a great legacy with the red ball,” de Villiers said on Kohli on sidelines of a NGO Project Mumbai on Saturday.
Gill will be leading an India side bereft of the experience of Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, all of whom have retired from Tests. They will also be without the veteran pacer Mohammed Shami who was not fully fit to board the flight to England.
“Yes, it’s time for the younger guys to step up… Shubman Gill taking on the responsibility. There’s lots of talent in India and largely credit to the IPL for that, (it is) really giving great exposure to some of the youngsters at a very early age. We saw Vaibhav Suryavanshi this year (and) many other youngsters, they come in their first year and they look very mature and ready to play cricket and it’s a great platform for Indian cricket,” De Villiers said.
“They’ve got to take some responsibility on in England, it’ll be a tough test, but they have all the talent in the world and if they believe, maybe they can achieve something special,” the former South African icon added.
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