Sunil Gavaskar challenges Ajit Agarkar to drop Virat Kohli

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed concern over Virat Kohli’s place in the Indian Test team following the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) defeat in Australia. Sunil Gavaskar claimed that Virat Kohli should play in the Ranji Trophy to regain confidence and secure his place in the Indian Test team.

Gavaskar’s comments came after Kohli’s disappointing performance in the final Test in Sydney, where India lost the match by six wickets. The Men in Blue lost the series by a 1-3 margin in Australia. This defeat also eliminated India from contention for a place in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final.

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During a discussion on Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar said that Virat Kohli should play a Ranji Trophy match in favorable conditions like the flat pitch in Rajkot, which would help him regain his confidence. Gavaskar said the players are assured of places in the national team despite poor performances.

“100 per cent. Whatever the attack is, it can be futile, even if you score runs against it in the Ranji Trophy, your confidence will be high. On January 23, Delhi’s match is against Saurashtra in Rajkot. All we know the Rajkot pitch. It’s extremely flat. Go and score a double hundred, you’ll get the confidence,” Gavaskar replied.

“Whether he does or not remains to be seen. If he refuses to play, it sends a message to everyone that what happened is okay because he knows the selection committee won’t let him down. No matter what you do or what be. decide, why do you need the selection committee if no one can leave you?” Gavaskar added

Virat Kohli scored only 190 runs in BGT 2024-25 in Australia

The 36-year-old managed 190 runs in nine innings at an average of 23.75 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with just one century in the opening Test. Over the last five years, Virat Kohli has scored only three centuries in his last 39 Tests. His batting average dropped from the mid-50s in 2019 to under 47.

In the post-series press conference, head coach Gautam Gambhir said that players who are not currently playing for India should be involved in domestic cricket. India will play a T20I series against England during the upcoming Ranji Trophy. Kohli, having retired from T20Is, should be available to play in the Ranji Trophy.

He used to be an automatic pick – Sunil Gavaskar

In the same discussion, Sunil Gavaskar raised questions about Virat Kohli’s place as an automatic choice in India’s Test side. Gavaskar said the selectors may now have to decide on his inclusion for the upcoming tour of England.

“You’re definitely going to wonder if he’s an automatic pick now. He used to be an automatic pick. His performances used to be so great that he used to be automatically picked,” he said.

“Whenever the selection committee sits, they pick 10 or 11, and most of the discussions happen between numbers 10 and 14. However, I think after this performance, Ajit Agarkar and his fellow team will definitely discuss whether he can be automatically included in the squad for the England tour,” Gavaskar observed.

England will host India for a five-match Test series starting on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. The remaining matches will take place at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s in London, Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester and Kennington Oval in London.

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