Virat Kohli has revealed that the Indian teams wanted to play first-class games in the lead up to the upcoming five-match Test series against England. However, it hasn’t been given to them, but he feels there is ample preparation time.
India came up short against New Zealand in the World Test Championship final. India’s batsmen couldn’t step up and could muster scores of just 217 and 170 in the two innings of the title clash.
India fought really hard and were good in patches with the bat. However, India’s batting on the final day really cost them the game, and a lot has been put down to the lack of preparation. India landed in the United Kingdom on the 3rd of June and played only an intra-squad game.
India now face England in a five-match Test series which will start on the 4th of August.
However, the Indian team doesn’t have any first-class fixtures scheduled before the mega Test series. Virat Kohli and co were supposed to play two four-day matches against India’ A’. But with the latter’s tour to England cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India are now scheduled to play two intra-squad matches.
It has come to light that India had asked for first-class games, and it wasn’t scheduled. Skipper Kohli confirmed the same and is unsure of the reasons for the denial of first-class games, but he admitted that there is ample time for preparation before the first Test match, which will be played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
“That doesn’t depend on us. We obviously wanted first-class games, which I believe have not been given to us. I don’t know what the reasons for that are. But yeah, other than that I think our preparation time will be ample for us to be ready for the first Test,”
Virat was quoted saying in the press conference after the WTC final.
According to Cricbuzz, the reason for the lack of first-class warm-up matches against the County teams or the England Lions is because of the current COVID-19 protocols which have been put in place by the England and Wales Cricket Board. Moreover, the end of July will see the Counties with a busy schedule as they have the One-Day competition and the inaugural edition of The Hundred starting on the 21st of July.
