Former Indian top-order batter and analyst Wasim Jaffer has reckoned that the Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli was bitter about his Test retirement, stating that he was keen to play more red-ball cricket if everything surrounding his exit was managed better.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer wasn’t completely sure about the details behind Kohli’s Test retirement, but revealed that he was gearing up for the England Test tour last year. However, he decided to retire ahead of the England tour with immediate effect.
“A player like Virat, he draws crowds to the stadium; he has such a massive following. He definitely could have played more Test cricket. Until we hear directly from Virat what the actual situation was, we won’t know for sure,” Jaffer said.
“But I mean, he was preparing; he was gearing up for the England tour. So, all those things could have been handled better. As I said, regarding certain individuals, things could have been managed better,” Jaffer added.
Kohli announced his Test retirement after scoring 9230 runs, including 30 centuries in 123 Tests. Further, Jaffer shared his views on the selection decisions taken in Indian cricket, stating that some calls paid off while others left players and fans dejected.
“Bold decisions were taken, and I feel that could have been handled better,” he said.
“We’ve played good white-ball cricket. We haven’t played as well in red-ball cricket, but that isn’t the selector’s fault. That falls on the coach and the captain. It’s up to them what team they field. Selectors can only pick the players,” Jaffer noted.
“So, I feel he has done a decent enough job; he took some bold decisions that paid off, though he certainly disappointed some individuals and many fans too, I’d say. That could have been handled better. In my opinion, it could have been managed a bit more diplomatically,” he concluded.
