'Ab lagta hai behtar din ayenge': Virender Sehwag backs Virat to do well after he scored fifty in warm-up game

For a long time now, former Indian captain Virat Kohli has been struggling to score big runs in competitive cricket. His last hundred in international cricket was against Bangladesh in 2019 and since then he has failed to reach the three-figure mark in any format of the game. But ahead of the one-off Test against England, which starts on July 1 in Birmingham, the 33-year-old batter looked to have found some rhythm. He scored a fifty against Leicestershire in the second innings of four-day warm-up match and looked very comfortable during his stay at the crease.

The Indian number four batter in Test matches was up against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna in the warm-up as the duo appeared for the English county side. And against the premier pacer, Bumrah, Virat was successful in playing an impactful innings. Impressed by Virat’s outing against the county side, former Indian opening batter Virender Sehwag said that Virat’s bad days are over now and he will score big runs against England in the rescheduled Test.

"Do you remember the last time Kohli scored a century? I don't even remember. He would definitely want to score big in this Edgbaston Test, which is the series decider," he told Sony’s pre-match show ‘Extra Innings.’

"I think his bad days are over. Ab lagta hai behtar din ayenge, and they have already started. He has scored fifty . When I used to play practice matches, my aim was to play as many balls as possible so that you know how much it offers swing. I think he has done that," he added.

"Don’t score everything in this practice match. Save something for Test match. I think he has saved 100-150 for that big game. And I am sure he will score big."

Virat was the Indian captain when the team toured England last year, and with present skipper Rohit Sharma’s availability in doubt for the Test due to COVID-19, Sehwag said that the 33-year-old should lead India if Rohit misses out.

"Yes, the vice captain will get the chance to captain, but if there is no official announcement, you can request Virat Kohli to come and captain the team."