Virat Kohli has been known for scoring heavily in Australia, but his recent tour there was quite disappointing. In the five-Test series, he managed to score only 190 runs at an average of 23.75. He was caught behind off outside-off-stump deliveries in eight innings, raising questions about his technique and career. He also faced criticism for not playing domestic cricket, with cricketing legends like Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar advising him to participate in the Ranji Trophy.
Meanwhile, there is now a claim circulating on social media that Kohli might play County Cricket in England to prepare for the Test series against England in June. Reports suggest that Kohli may even skip a few IPL 2025 matches for this. But how true is this claim? Let’s find out.
Will Virat Kohli Play County Cricket?
England’s County Championship Division 1 and Division 2 matches are scheduled to begin in April, coinciding with the IPL season. India’s five-match Test series against England is set to start on 20 June. Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that Kohli should play County Cricket to improve his performance on overseas tours, especially after his struggles in Australia.
Following Manjrekar’s suggestion, claims about Kohli playing County Cricket gained traction. However, there has been no official confirmation or reliable sources supporting this. Moreover, it seems unlikely that a star like Kohli would leave the IPL mid-season, as Royal Challengers Bangalore would not want their marquee player to miss games. Thus, the chances of Kohli playing County Cricket appear very slim.
Manjrekar’s Advice
Sanjay Manjrekar recently analyzed Kohli’s batting on Star Sports, highlighting his technical and confidence issues. Manjrekar warned that if Kohli’s struggles with outside-off-stump deliveries persist, he could face similar problems in England, potentially jeopardizing his career. He suggested that Kohli should address this issue, and playing County Cricket could be an excellent option. Manjrekar also gave the same advice to Rohit Sharma.