Is it too early to give up on Virat Kohli? Former India Star Mohammed Kaif has some interesting insights

The best batsman in modern cricket, Virat Kohli, has been going through a terrible time lately and has been in the news more for his not-so-great form. There were questions asked about his future in the Indian team after such a poor display in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The batting maestro could muster only 190 runs in nine innings of the series with one solitary hundred. Mohammed Kaif, the former Indian cricketer, believes Kohli is far from being written off, at least in white-ball cricket.

A Setback in Tests, Not a Full Stop

The latest setback for Kohli in Test cricket has renewed discussions about his career. According to Kaif, however, one bad series is not a sufficient reason to call it a day on someone like Kohli. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif emphasized that Kohli’s track record in One Day Internationals (ODIs) speaks volumes. Kohli scores close to 13,000 runs, scoring over 50 ODI centuries and was, till that date, India's highest short format scorer of the time. "Forget what happened in Tests. Virat Kohli never accepts defeat and always makes a comeback, remarked Kaif.

Dubai-Luck Returns to Favorite Son

He also referenced how Dubai has always been fortunate for the India star in terms of history. The star batter is remembered for the marvelous performance he put up against Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022, wherein Kohli slammed an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls. That innings saw six sixes, bringing back memories of Kohli in white-ball cricket. Kaif is hopeful that Kohli will regain his rhythm in Dubai during the Champions Trophy, where India will play their T20I matches after refusing to travel to Pakistan.

The last time Virat Kohli batted in Dubai, he played a match-winning innings. He loves playing here and I'm sure he will do well at this venue again when the Champions Trophy comes to the Emirates Cricket Stadium. If he does well in the first game, then there is no looking back, said Kaif.

Kaif went on to lavish praise on Kohli's ODI and T20 skills, declaring him the "uncrowned king of white-ball cricket." Former batsman believes Kohli differs from others, owing to the determination and toughness in his mind. "His comeback is unbeatable and contributions to Indian cricket by Kohli are yet far from being over," Kaif says.

If Kohli makes a good start, he's going to carry forward that momentum. He has shown that time and again, that he thrives under pressure in the white-ball format," Kaif said.

Busy Times Ahead for Kohli

Kohli is going to play a three-match ODI series against England, known for their competitive nature, before the Champions Trophy. Besides this, Kohli has also announced that he wants to return to the Ranji Trophy after a 13-year gap, where he will be playing for Delhi against Railways starting January 30. So, before the Champions Trophy, Kohli is going to get ample chances to regain his form.

The decision underlines Kohli's commitment towards developing his skills and contributing to Indian cricket at all levels. It also gives more opportunities to the spectators to witness the brilliance of Kohli in formats that suited him during the early stages of his career.

The Champions Trophy-

For Kohli, the Champions Trophy means much more than just re-gaining his form; rather, it's a great platform to put those critics in their place. It is going to be a very important tournament, and so, Kohli will get to remind the world of cricket how unique he was in white-ball cricket.

Kaif remains optimistic about Kohli’s chances of making a strong comeback. “Virat Kohli’s era has not ended. He still has plenty to offer to Indian cricket, and the Champions Trophy could be the turning point,” he said.

Conclusion

While Virat Kohli has faced some recent challenges in Test cricket, it is too early to write him off. His great record in the white-ball format and his mental toughness make him a valuable player for Indian cricket. As Kaif said, Kohli feeds on challenges and has a history of delivering in matches that matter.

With the Champions Trophy looming in the horizon and opportunities in both domestic and international cricket ahead, Kohli has every chance to reclaim his position as one of the most dominant players in the game. Writing off a player of his stature would be premature because his legacy in cricket is far from complete.