Anil Kumble backs Virat Kohli’s ‘five centers for Test matches’ theory

Tags: India, Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble, Former India coach

Published on: Oct 28, 2019

Former India leg spinner Anil Kumble has backed Virat Kohli’s thoughts of having five centers for Test matches in an endeavor to try and bring crowds

Former India leg spinner Anil Kumble has backed Virat Kohli’s thoughts of having five centers for Test matches in an endeavor to try and bring crowds back to the stadium. Kumble feels BCCI should go traditional again, like in the 80s and 90s, when New Year Tests were held in Kolkata and matches were held in Chennai during Pongal

“We all remember that during the festival time, during the festival of Pongal, the Test match used to happen in Chennai. And the start of the season used to be in Delhi, Bangalore would have a Test match, Mumbai would have a Test match, Kolkata of course,” the former India captain and coach was quoted as saying in a CricketNext report.

Following the Ranchi Test between India and South Africa, which saw poor spectator turnout, Kohli had suggested that India must stick to five-Test centers for future series’, much like how Australia and England do.

“I think it is important for Test cricket to promote these centers where people would know that these are the centers where you are going to play Test match cricket in prior to the start of the season so that you can market Test cricket and you can make sure that the crowd come in,” Kumble said.

“When I was the coach, I think we played in six different centers, they were all new centers and the one center it was packed was Indore. And the atmosphere was brilliant, it is in the heart of the city that was one of the reasons that the crowd could come in irrespective of the time of the day,” Kumble further added.

Kumble, who is the most successful Indian bowler in international cricket, also supported the idea of day-night Tests. “I think day-night Test cricket will certainly bring in the crowds towards the latter half of that game,” Kumble stated.

“You also need to choose the right time of the year because we’ve seen in day-night ODIs, the ball gets really wet because of due. So, you may have to choose the venue and time of the year,” he said.

Kumble also went on to add that he isn’t surprised with India’s dominance in world cricket of late. “Yes, I believe so and even three years ago when I was the coach, I did mention that this team certainly has everything in them to dominate world cricket and that is exactly what they have done and it is not just about the playing eleven, it is also the bench strength,” the former spinner explained.

--Renin Wilben Albert

Related News