Constant spotlight on Virat Kohli is quite unnecessary: Arjuna Ranatunga-OxBig News Network

Former Sri Lanka captain and World Cup winner Arjuna Ranatunga feels that the spotlight constantly being on Virat Kohli is quite unnecessary and the star batter should be given the freedom to make a decision about his future. Kohli hasn’t had the best of times with the bat in the past few months as the failure in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy put his position in the team under scrutiny.

Kohli made a return to the domestic circuit with Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, but he only scored 6 runs in his comeback. The poor run of form continued in the ODI series against England as the star batter was dismissed for just 5 runs in the Cuttack ODI after missing the match in Nagpur due to an injury. Speaking to the Telegraph, Ranatunga said that the call on Kohli’s future should be left in the hands of the player and the star batter should make his own path.

“For a player like Kohli who has scored so much of runs, I feel it’s best if that’s left to him. It’s a call that Kohli needs to take, so let him take it. Why always have the spotlight on him? It’s quite unnecessary I feel. It’s his decision, so let him take that,” said Ranatunga.

‘Kohli needs to speak to legends’

Ranatunga also advised Kohli to talk to legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar or Rahul Dravid to help him arrest his poor run of form. The former Sri Lankan skipper feels that the legends can help the star batter in his bid to get back to form.

“I think what Kohli needs to do is speak to people like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar or a Rahul Dravid. That’s what he can do. They can certainly help him out,” said Ranatunga.

Speaking about Kohli and Rohit Sharma regaining their form, Ranatunga felt it was just a matter of one good innings.

“Given their stature and the kind of batsmen they have been, I feel it’s a matter of one good innings to regain their rhythm. Let’s see,” said Ranatunga.

Rohit scored a hundred in Cuttack and Kohli will now have his final chance to get back to form during the Ahmedabad ODI.

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