Kevin Pietersen believes debate round Virat Kohli’s Test captaincy ‘a distraction’

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen doesn’t see any menace to Virat Kohli’s captaincy within the foreseeable future however can perceive the rising debate over it with India dropping 4 consecutive Tests underneath his management.
Under Kohli’s captaincy, India misplaced two Tests in New Zealand early final 12 months, suffered a humiliating defeat within the sequence opener towards Australia in Adelaide in December earlier than happening to England within the first match in Chennai earlier this week.
“I absolutely don’t expect things to change, but it is impossible to avoid the continuing debate around the Indian Test match captaincy,” Pietersen wrote in his weblog submit for ‘Betway’.
“Virat Kohli has now lost four consecutive Test matches as skipper, and has Ajinkya Rahane, who just led India to a famous series win in Australia, in his side,” he added.
In the absence of Kohli, vice-captain Rahane led an injury-ravaged Indian group to a scintillating 2-1 sequence win in Australia.
The unlikely win in Australia gave rise to the controversy if Kohli ought to be changed by Rahane as India’s Test captain.
However, the previous England skipper threw his weight behind Kohli, saying he’s completely able to main his facet to victory.
“On social media, each radio station, each tv channel and each information channel, there are very deep discussions round what ought to occur. Captaining your nation could be very tough and sadly that is the character of the beast.
“It’s one more distraction that Kohli doesn’t need but he is, of course, capable of leading his side to a victory in the second Test to quieten things down a bit,” Pietersen stated.
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The 40-year-old additionally feels the strain might be on veteran English pacer Stuart Broad to carry out within the second Test after James Anderson bowled a match-winning spell within the sequence opener.
“Whereas Anderson has now conquered every nation he has performed in, the one factor that Stuart Broad hasn’t finished is carry out in India. His document — 10 wickets in six matches at a mean of almost 54 — isn’t spectacular in any respect.
“Anderson and Broad are hailed as an incredible partnership, and of course they have been, but this is the difference between the two,” Pietersen stated.
Broad, who was rested for the primary Test as a part of England’s rotation coverage, is about to play within the second sport and Pietersen feels this sequence perhaps the final likelihood for the pacer to create a legacy in India.
“If Broad needs to be globally recognised as a bowler that delivers in all situations, he’s really underneath various strain to carry out within the second Test.
“Not only does replacing an in-form Anderson in the team bring its own demands, but it will also probably be his last chance to nail it in India. He is an experienced and wonderful bowler, though, so he has every chance.”