Ex-Australia captain shares Winning formula for India’s England tour, makes bold Virat Kohli prediction

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Virat Kohli’s recent struggles with form particularly his ongoing issue with deliveries outside the off-stump have become a hot topic in cricket circles. The Indian cricketer's disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where he scored only 190 runs in nine innings has raised questions about his place in India’s Test squad particularly for the upcoming tour to England in June. Despite these concerns former Australian World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke has backed Kohli to continue playing calling him a "once-in-a-generation player." Clarke emphasized that Kohli still has much to offer and should remain a key figure in the team. "If Virat wants to keep playing, he keeps playing. He is still a great batsman," Clarke said, adding that for India to win the five-Test series in England Kohli must be their leading run-scorer.

Kohli’s poor form which saw him average under 25 in Test cricket in 2024 with just one half-century and one century is expected to be a major point of discussion when India’s captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir undergo a performance review by the BCCI selectors. Clarke also offered advice to Kohli suggesting that the key to overcoming his struggles lies in footwork and intent. Instead of focusing solely on leaving deliveries Clarke believes Kohli should work on getting closer to the ball to better defend, drive or leave it. While Kohli continues to face challenges in Test cricket he is expected to be a crucial player for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy His journey from battling poor form to a potential comeback will be closely watched by fans and experts alike.