Captain Virat Kohli is the lynchpin of Indian batting and has been in explosive form over the last few years dominating the opposition bowlers and the International Cricket Council (ICC) batsmen rankings. Kohli has represented India in 84 Tests, 248 One-Day Internationals and 82 T20 Internationals till now (February 19, 2020) scoring 12457, 11867 and 2794 runs in each format respectively.
The 31-year-old, one of the senior-most Team India players, is now preparing himself for a “rigorous three years” of playing Tests, ODIs and T20Is after which he might reassess his workload amid a “transition phase” setting in. The world’s premier batsman is looking at the “bigger picture” in Indian cricket with two T20 and one ODI World Cup in the next three years after which he might decide on playing two of the three formats.
“My mindset is on the bigger picture as I prepare myself for a rigorous three years from now and after that we might have a different conversation,” Kohli replied when asked if he is having second thoughts about quitting at least one format after the 2021 World T20 in India in Wellington on Friday (February 19), two days before the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand.
He didn’t mince any words while admitting that fatigue and workload management are issues that need to be discussed at all forums.
“It’s not a conversation you can hide away from in any manner. It is around eight years now that I have been playing 300 days a year, which includes travelling and practice sessions. And intensity is right up there all the time. It does take a toll on you,” the Indian captain was forthright in his reply.