The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli reckons that n the current generation of players lack enough motivation to play Test cricket, and this is the big reason why every team is not able to compete in the longest format of the game in recent times. India and England will be locking horns with each other in five Tests, with the first starting on Wednesday.
During a recent chat with Dinesh Karthik on Star Sports, Dinesh Karthik said, “Test cricket would have been in trouble three years back as well, but I think it’s the players that keep Test cricket alive. To be honest, if we did not have the mindset to play Test cricket and be so passionate about it, then it would have taken a huge hit, or that would have given a huge blow to Test cricket all over the world. I can assure you that.”
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He further added, “WTC is a very positive move, it is a step in the right direction, there is everything at stake in every Test match you play and I think it all depends what the players want from Test cricket. If people-watching on television feel like I do not want to miss a ball, that is eventually what is going to keep Test cricket alive.”
When Karthik asked why the international teams are finding it difficult to compete in Test cricket, Virat Kohli had a unique solution.
👑 KING KOHLI: COMING SOON! 🚨
India captain @imVkohli speaks exclusively to @DineshKarthik in a wide-ranging interview, discussing the future of Test cricket, fame, fitness, leadership & more 🇮🇳
Watch in full during the first #ENGvIND 🏴🇮🇳🏏 Test on Sky Sports Cricket! 📺 pic.twitter.com/1TNgVzi3S6
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2021
The Indian skipper explained, “Firstly, you need to be honest with yourself. You know Test cricket is tough, even when you are one of the top teams in the world, you can go into a space where you do not want it. At certain stages, you can feel like do I want to do this over five days? Are you ready to go out there on day three when stakes are against you? Are you strong enough to do that.”
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He further elaborated, “Firstly, looking yourself at the mirror and asking do you want to play Test and if the answer is yes then just go out there and be relentless. I honestly feel there is not enough motivation for people towards Test cricket, something I have observed. That is why invariably you see, teams giving up in Test cricket.”
In the first WTC cycle, New Zealand defeated India in the finals to win the Test mace.
