Virat Kohli gives a big NO to 100-ball format, says 'commercial aspects taking over real cricket'

Indian skipper Virat Kohli believes that cricket is losing a lot of quality due to the “commercial aspects” which are overshadowing the game and hit out at the 100-ball cricket format proposed by the England Cricket Board. Kohli, who is also the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in BCCI’s marquee event the Indian Premier League (IPL) says the schedule for the cricketers are extremely exhausting.

“I’m already very… I wouldn’t say frustrated, but sometimes it can get very demanding of you when you have to play so much cricket regularly. I feel somewhere the commercial aspect is taking over the real quality of cricket and that hurts me,” Kohli told the ‘Wisden Cricket Monthly’.

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Meanwhile, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to start a new 100-ball format which have garnered criticism from all quarters. However, the Virat Kohli has made it clear that he won’t be a part of ‘one more format’.

“Obviously for the people involved (ECB) in the whole process and the set-up it will be really exciting but I cannot think of one more format, to be honest,” Kohli said.

“Honestly, I don’t want to be a testing sort of a cricketer for any new format. I don’t want to be someone who’s going to be part of that World XI who comes and launches the 100-ball format.”

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Kohli went on to differentiate between the IPL/Big Bash League from the new experiment in 100-ball format.

“I love playing the IPL, I love watching the BBL, because you are working towards something, competing against high-quality sides and it gets your competitive juices flowing. That’s what you want as a cricketer. I am all for the leagues, but not to experiment.”

The Indian skipper, who missed out on his debut county stint for Surrey due to an injury said that he would love to play county cricket in future.

“County cricket always intrigued me. Unfortunately, it couldn’t happen this time but I would love to come again in future,” he said.

India face England in the fourth Test match that will be played from Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The hosts England currently lead the five-match Test series by 2-1.