Indian captain Virat Kohli reckons that there should be no tinkering with Test cricket as he does not see it getting compressed to four days, as the ICC is finally ways to prop up the sport’s traditional format.

During a recent interview with Wisden Cricket Monthly, Virat sad, “I cannot explain to you the job satisfaction that you get when you do well in Test cricket, because you know how demanding it is. It’s the most beautiful format of the game. I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere. I don’t even see it getting compressed to four days. Definitely. It should not be tinkered with.”

The increasing number of T20 leagues around the globe has posed a threat to the traditional Test cricket, with the ODIs close to facing an existential crisis as well.

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Talking about the same, Virat said, “It all depends on the awareness of people who watch the game. If you take a country like South Africa or Australia or England, they have big crowds for Test matches because people understand the sport. It’s literally living life over five days. I think that if you really understand the sport, if you really love the sport, you understand Test cricket and you understand how exciting it is. I cannot explain to you the job satisfaction that you get when you do well in Test cricket, because you know how demanding it is.”

The ICC will introduce a nine-team two-year Test world championship in 2019, alongside a 13-team ODI league as well as trialing four-day matches. Kohli, who scored 593 runs from five Tests in England, is in favour of the forthcoming Test championship.

Expressing his take on the Test championship, Kohli said, “I think that is going to give a huge push to Test cricket. It makes every series more competitive, and there’s going to be ups and downs throughout the Championship, which I really look forward to. The teams that love playing Test cricket are always going to be passionate about it. And it also depends on the system you have back home as well. If you’re not going to give more importance to first-class cricket, then people are going to lose motivation to play the longest format of the game. “

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The Test championship could see India playing Pakistan in the format for the first time since 2007, although when asked if he would like to face the arch-rivals in Tests, Kohli remained non-committal. He said they have such a quality bowling attack that obviously as a batsman he would love to face them, but assured that it, not something of which he is having any aspirations of or something that he really wants badly. I don’t pinpoint things anymore. 

Virat Kohli also praised his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he said that the latter is the only captain he has picked up aspects of leadership from.

The Indian skipper explained, “Not really anyone before MS. I was always someone who kept talking to him about the game so even when I was really young, before I was made vice-captain, I would give him my suggestions. I love thinking about the game and that’s why I enjoy captaincy so much and I enjoy chasing totals so much I love using my brain to figure out what needs to be done during the game. I’ve learned the most from MS, standing so close to him at slip so many times and just observing him at close quarters.”

Describing his own leadership style, Kohli said being positive is the only way he has played his cricket and expected his team to do the same too. He feels that results are a by-product of that mindset. he believes in giving total freedom to the guys to go out there and play the way they want to, and to be fearless. 

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Kohli concluded, “I just wanted to play cricket at this level and now I’ve been given such an honour to captain my country. It allows me to set the right example and work hard, so I can expect my teammates to work as hard. It has only helped me grow as a person and make me understand the game better and what needs to be done at different points of the game, or in life in general. You learn so many things about what are controllables, what are not controllables, respecting losses and working hard towards victory. When decision-making is on you, you need to be very aware of what you are doing and that makes you aware as a person in general.”