Former England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has given a huge statement with respect to India's captain and one of the best batsmen of the world i.e. Virat Kohli. Panesar lashed out at Virat Kohli over his choice of selection in the first test to include left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem over leggie Kuldeep Yadav for the first Test which the hosts lost by 227 runs to England on Tuesday.
Panesar also highlighted how Kohli is under pressure and as a result, he will also step down as India's captain. The left-arm spinner said that Ajinkya's commendable captainship has made Kohli under pressure and as a result, India has lost back to back 4 tests under his captainship.
Talking to WION, Panesar said, "Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batsmen of all-time but the team is simply not doing well under him and we have the result in the last four Test that India played under him. I think Kohli will be under pressure and more now because Ajinkya Rahane has done phenomenally well as the captain."
"India have already lost four Tests in a row and if the number goes to five in the next match, then I think he will step down from his role,” Panesar added.
Criticizing Kohli for his team selection, Panesar said, "I just don’t understand why India would play Shahbaz Nadeem over Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep has been with the team since ages, he is bowling regularly in the nets and is in a rhythm. I don’t know how much Nadeem has played since the lockdown but Kuldeep should have started."
On the other hand, Kohli in the press conference had said that he had no regrets about playing Nadeem, and the team management always preferred Nadeem over Kuldeep.