Rohit and Gavaskar web ST

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Virat Kohli is perhaps going through the toughest phase in his cricketing career. Runs have completely dried up for the star batter who once used to score runs for fun. This dry-run from Kohli has sparked a debate about his place in the Indian squad. Many experts and former cricketers including world cup-winning captain Kapil Dev have raised questions about the management persisting with Kohli despite his poor run of form.

However, Sunil Gavaskar has got a completely different set of views about Kohli’s struggles with the bat. The former India captain has backed the Indian batting stalwart and hopes for Kohli to regain his form at the earliest. Gavaskar has said that every batter goes through such a phase and also criticized the Kohli critics saying no one questions if Rohit Sharma fails.

"See, I cannot understand that when Rohit Sharma does not score runs no one talks about it. It is the same with other players as well. There is a saying that form is temporary, class is temperament. See, the kind of template they are adopting (in T20Is) where they have to swing the bat from ball one, you will succeed and fail," Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

The former Indian opener also said that there is enough time for deciding the squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup and imposed faith in the selection committee to make wise decisions. "We have a good selection committee which is thinking about it. I think there is enough time (more than two months) to announce the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022.

There will be several competitive Asian countries participating in the event. You will have to pick your team keeping in mind the form of a player. There is no need to panic yet and we need to give them some time,” the 73-year-old added.

Sunil Gavaskar also believes that Kohli will have a great chance to get back among runs in the ODI series against England. “I think the ODI series has come at the right time. It suits his natural game. Like in Test cricket, there is enough time to settle down. In ODI cricket too the batter can play himself in according to the conditions,” Gavaskar opined. However, Kohli is not playing the first ODI due to a niggle.