As Team India prepares for the highly anticipated Test series against Bangladesh, former cricketer Suresh Raina has made a bold prediction about Virat Kohli’s future in the longest format of the game. Raina believes that Kohli, who is set to make his return to Test cricket after a brief hiatus, will score a significant number of runs in the upcoming Test cycle.
Kohli’s Hunger for Test Cricket
Raina, who played alongside Kohli for several years, emphasized the latter’s love for Test matches and the respect he has for the format. “Virat loves Test matches and gives a lot of respect to them. Leading to the WTC, India will play around 10 matches and I believe Virat will score a hell lot of runs in this Test cycle,” Raina told IANS.
Kohli, who last played a Test match in January 2024, missed the five-match series against England at home due to the birth of his second child. However, Raina believes that Kohli’s class against the best bowlers around the world will shine through, and he expects the ace batter to thrive in the center of all the action.
Kohli’s Ability to Perform Under Pressure
Raina also highlighted Kohli’s ability to perform under pressure, stating that the challenges will boost him and help him shine. “Virat thrives under pressure, and this whole Test season will see him at the centre of action. Bangladesh has strong pacers, but Kohli has shown his prowess against bowlers like Haris Rauf. Challenges boost him, and I expect him to shine,” Raina added.
With India’s World Test Championship campaign restarting, it will be crucial for Team India to have their main man firing on all cylinders as they gear up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 in November 2024. Kohli’s last big triple-figure score came in the Port of Spain Test against the West Indies back in July 2023, and fans will be eager to see him regain his best form with the willow.
Bangladesh, who recently clinched a historic series win over Pakistan on the latter’s home turf, will pose a strong challenge for Team India. With a settled squad and some talented players on display, Kohli will hope to be the key figure in helping Team India maintain their unbeaten streak, which dates back to 2013.
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