India skipper Rohit Sharma, who tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Test match against England on July 1, might not be available for the Birmingham tie, and fans on social media are urging Virat Kohli to take up the captaincy for the rescheduled game, but the former skipper's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma doesn't see that happening.
It was Virat, under whose captaincy India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series against England last year, before the fifth and last Test was postponed due to Covid-19 fears in the visiting camp.
"He was not sacked or removed, he himself left the captaincy. So, I don't think I will see him leading again. I'm not very sure what the selectors or the BCCI will decide? Virat is a team-man and wants India to do well and contribute to the team, which I think he's doing very well," he said.
The 33-year-old has gone more than 100 innings in all forms of cricket including IPL without scoring a hundred since hitting 136 in Kolkata against Bangladesh in November 2019. He has often got starts but he hasn't been able to convert them into big scores. He has even passed fifty several times since that innings in Kolkata but hasn't managed to hit his 71st international century yet.
No pressure
"No, he is not at all under pressure. Contributing to the team and India's victory is more important for him rather than getting his hundred. He never goes after records. So, as long as he's doing well and is contributing well with the bat, he is not worried about his personal milestone," Rajkumar told IANS in an interview on the sidelines of an award show in the national capital.
Virat looked in fine touch during India's four-day warm-up game against Leicestershire County Club, which ended in a draw. It's often been seen that the star cricketer generally doesn't play the orthodox square-cut especially in Test cricket but he found a way with the flashy punches in the warm-up game.
Asked whether Virat has added a few new shots in his armoury, the coach said that Virat always tries to adapt well with the conditions and they have conversations from time to time. "I think he was playing really well and got some 60-odd runs in the second innings. He looked in great nick and I feel he will continue that in the coming series. Virat is a sort of player, who keeps working on his batting based on the requirement of the conditions. He always keeps on adding a few shots in his armoury so that he can counter or adjust with the condition, where he is playing," said Sharma.
Great adaptability
"Adaptability has been his best strength, which he is doing now. We do have conversations from time to time but there is nothing much to advise him, since he is relaxed and playing well," he added.
