Just say India needs you, Virat Kohli will be available: Navjot Singh Sidhu-OxBig News Network

Navjot Singh Sidhu has rubbished talk about Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, saying that the star batter will make himself available if India needs him. News emerged on May 10 that Kohli had informed BCCI of his intention to retire from Test cricket before the tour of England, which will start on June 20.

Since then, many cricketers have urged Kohli to reverse his decision, including the likes of Brian Lara and Ambati Rayudu. Sidhu, while talking on his YouTube channel, said that the star batter will not retire and will be essential in England.

Sidhu said that things will fall apart if you try to make a team without Kohli as there will be compromises in every area. The former cricketer said that Kohli acts as a bridge in the team. Sidhu also said that the team he will make with Kohli will go to England and win.

“Once it’s said that the country needs you, just forget everything else. Virat Kohli will say, I am available. Virat Kohli is needed in these conditions in England. In England, if you play Virat Kohli, I’ll make an eleven for you. I’ll make an eleven, and you see the strength of that eleven.”

“If you try to form a team without Virat, everything will start to fall apart. You’ll be compromising in every area, and you won’t even realize where and how to establish stability. You just won’t understand. That’s how important he is—he’s like the bridge standing firm at number four.”

“And the eleven I’ll give you with Virat Kohli in it is not just a team that can survive in England—it’s a team that can win in England,” said Sidhu.

‘Kohli’s gives the team balance’

Sidhu’s team consisted of Sai Sudharsan and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the openers with Shubman Gill at No.3, followed by Kohli. He used KL Rahul at 5 and Rishabh Pant at 6, with Ravindra Jadeja following them. Sidhu also said that India can bring in Nitish Kumar Reddy if they don’t want to use four outright pacers.

“Sai Sudharsan and Jaiswal as openers. Number three, Gill. Number four, Kohli. Number five, KL Rahul. Number six, Rishabh Pant. Then at number seven, Jadeja. And four fast bowlers—if you don’t want to play outright fast bowlers and want batting till number eight, then bring in Nitish Reddy and play three fast bowlers,” said Sidhu.

Sidhu said that specialists will be needed in the side and Kohli is vital for the team’s balance.

“What I’m saying is, you need specialists, not bits-and-pieces players. When you go for bits and pieces, you end up compromising in Test matches. And the collapse of team character begins with compromise. That’s where it starts—from compromise.”

“But if you don’t make those compromises, then you have so many options. And Kohli is that one bridge that gives the team balance. He gives you the liberty to play four fast bowlers. And if you play four outright, fiery, wicket-taking fast bowlers, here’s the catch—the English will not dare to give you the kind of pitches they think can mentally break you,” said Sidhu.

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