MUMBAI: Team Indian captain Virat Kohli, in a recent interview, has given the thumbs down 100-ball format that the English cricket board is incubating, arguing that one more format being added to game would be too much to manage for professional cricketers.
the world’s top cricketers currently play three formats while on international duty – Tests, ODIs and T20s.
“Obviously for the people involved in the whole process and the set-up it will be really exciting but I cannot think of one more format, to be honest,” said Kohli in an exclusive interview to Wisden. “I’m already very… I wouldn’t say frustrated, but sometimes it can get very demanding of you when you have to play so much cricket regularly. I feel somewhere the commercial aspect is taking over the real quality of cricket and that hurts me.
“Honestly, I don’t want to be a testing sort of a cricketer for any new format. I don’t want to be someone who’s going to be part of that World XI who comes and launches the 100-ball format. I love playing the IPL, I love watching the BBL, because you’re working towards something, competing against high-quality sides and it gets your competitive juices flowing. That’s what you want as a cricketer. I’m all for the leagues, but not to experiment,” he noted.
The Indian skipper said that he has always loved following County Cricket.
“County cricket always intrigued me. I’ve heard so much from so many players over so many years that it has really helped them understand their games even better. Someone like Zaheer Khan, his bowling was totally transformed after his stint,” he said.
Kohli and the Indian team right now are in England playing the five-Test series against the hosts. After three Tests, England are 2-1 up and the fourth Test is due to begin on Thursday at Southampton.
