India skipper Virat Kohli has raised concerns that commercial aspects are hurting the true quality of the game.
The 29-year-old batsman is one of the busiest cricketers in the world leading India in all three formats along with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
Speaking to Wisden Cricket Monthly, Kohli touched on the demanding schedule for modern cricketers.
“I’m already very… I wouldn’t say frustrated, but sometimes it can get very demanding of you when you have to play so much cricket regularly. I feel somewhere the commercial aspect is taking over the real quality of cricket and that hurts me,” Kohli stated.
The No1 ranked Test batsman in the world also spoke on the possibility of playing in the ‘Hundred’ format devised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The 100-ball format is ECB’s attempt to reignite interest in the sport in the country and there have been reports that top Indian cricketers could be invited to play in the inaugural match.
Kohli, however, does not have any inclination to play the format.
Kohli leads India across all three formats of the game.
“Obviously for the people involved (ECB) in the whole process and the set-up it will be really exciting but I cannot think of one more format, to be honest,” Kohli said.
“Honestly, I don’t want to be a testing sort of a cricketer for any new format. I don’t want to be someone who’s going to be part of that World XI who comes and launches the 100-ball format,” he added.
The India superstar was slated to make his maiden appearance in England’s county cricket this year but his proposed stint with Surrey did not come to fruition due to a neck injury he sustained in the IPL.
The Indian man remains determined to play in England’s domestic first-class competition at some point in the future.
“County cricket always intrigued me. Unfortunately, it couldn’t happen this time but I would love to come again in future,” the right-hander said.
“I have heard so much from so many players over so many years that it has really helped them understand their games even better. Also just to understand how professional the set-up over here is, how the longest format of the game is looked at with so much respect.”
Kohli and his men will lock horns with England in the fourth Test of the five-match series which gets underway at Southampton on Thursday.
