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Andre Russell Disagrees With Kohli's Views On Test Cricket
Follow UsVirat Kohli had told Matthew Hayden that he ranked winning the IPL five levels below Test cricket, as he values it the most
“This moment [winning the IPL] is right up there with the best moments I have had in my career, but it still marks 5 levels under Test cricket, that is how much I love Test cricket, and that is how much I value Test cricket. I would just urge the youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect.”
This is what Virat Kohli told Matthew Hayden in an off-pitch interview right after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the first time after 18 years of playing the tournament for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
It wasn’t just a statement that showed how much Test cricket meant to him personally, however, it reflected a deep-seated commitment to the longest format shown by India ever since he started leading India in the whites.
While most corners of the cricket world seemed to have applauded Kohli for showing his commitment to Test cricket during the celebration of the IPL trophy, West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell disagreed with him because he felt that only the players of the Big three (India, Australia and England) can afford to think of Test cricket in that fashion.
“Those guys [India, Australia and England] get lucrative central contracts to play Test cricket and play on the biggest stages, of course, they want to play. West Indians? You might play 50 or 100 Tests and you know, after you retire, there’s not much to show for it,” Russell told The Guardian in an interview.
The big-hitting all-rounder further added that while he believes in the value of Test cricket, he never got the chance to show what it meant to him because he was pigeon-holed as a white ball cricketer, and that’s where he earned his daily bread to feed his family.
“Of course, you want the possibility of living a comfortable life and taking care of your family,” Russell said.
“I believe in Test cricket, but at the end of the day, I’m a professional. It wasn’t part of my journey. I have no regrets because it wasn’t me who turned my back. I was basically pushed out of the Test setup. They saw me as more of a white-ball player, and that was that,” he added.