Out Of Form Players Shouldn't Be 'Rested', Believes Venkatesh Prasad

Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad hinted at slamming the Indian team management for continuing to feature talismanic batter Virat Kohli despite the Delhi batter's prolonged lean patch with the bat.

Since November 2019, Kohli hasn't scored a century in international cricket and is currently going through a rough patch for form across all formats of the game. Now, through his official Twitter account, Prasad pointed out that all the big guns were dropped from the side during his time with the Indian team when they were out of form.

Kohli will be next seen for India during the three-match ODI series against England, with the first game to be played at The Oval on Tuesday. After the completion of ODI series, Kohli has been rested from the ODIs against West Indies with speculations rife that he could also be rested from the five-match T20I series against the West Indies.

"There was a time when you were out of form, you would be dropped irrespective of reputation. Sourav, Sehwag, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Bhajji all have been dropped when not in form. They have went back to domestic cricket, scored runs and staged a comeback," wrote Prasad.

"The yardsticks seem to have Changed drastically now, where there is rest for being out of form. This is no way for progress. There is so much talent in the country and cannot play on reputation. One of India's greatest match-winner, Anil Kumble sat out on so many occasions, need action's for the larger good," added Prasad, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for India.

In the two T20Is he featured against England at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, Kohli scored just one and 11 against England in the three-match series won 2-1 by India.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag also took an indirect swipe at the team management for persisting with Kohli in the playing eleven.

"India has so many batsman who can get going from the start, some of them are unfortunately sitting out. Need to find a way to play the best available players in current form in T-20 cricket," said Sehwag on his official Twitter account.

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After the first ODI at The Oval on Tuesday, Lord's will host the second game on Thursday and Old Trafford in Manchester scheduled to stage the final 50-over match of the series on Sunday.