Share

India's Kohli not yet ready to ease workload

Wellington - Virat Kohli admitted on Wednesday that captaining India in all three cricketing formats was gruelling but insisted he was not yet ready to ease his leadership burden.

Speaking ahead of the opening Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday, Kohli, 31, said stepping back was on his mind, but not for a few years.

"It's not a conversation to hide away from," he told reporters. "It's been about eight years now that I've been playing almost 300 days a year.

"With the travelling, practice sessions and the intensity being right up there all the time, it does take a toll on you."

Asked about fellow players who had dropped one or more forms of the game in order to extend their careers, Kohli replied: "I'm not in that space at the moment."

"Periodic breaks for me seem to work pretty OK," he added.

"At a time when the body doesn't respond as well, maybe at around 34, 35, you might have a different conversation, but for the next two or three years I have no issues."

Kohli, who took over the Test captaincy in late 2014, said he wanted to ensure the Indian team was in a good place when he finally relaxed his grip on the reins.

"The team wants a lot of my contribution in the next two or three years, so that we can ease into another transition, which is what we faced about five or six years ago," he said.

"The mindset is obviously on the larger picture and from that point of view, I am preparing myself for a rigorous three years."

Kohli backed rookie opening batsmen Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw to shine at Wellington's Basin Reserve, where India have not won a Test since 1968.

"These guys have no baggage, they're not desperate in any way to perform here," he said.

"They play with a fearlessness that can motivate the whole team and give us the kind of starts we want."

Kohli expected the notorious Wellington wind to play a role in the match, saying it had to be carefully considered when weighing up bowling options.

"Wind in this stadium more than any other in the world plays a massive, massive role," he said.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2246 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE