STRONG OPINION

Brad Hodge doubts IPL's role in Kohli's Dharamsala Test absence

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Virat Kohli turned drinks man for the Indian side after failing to regain 100 percent fitness ahead of the Dharamsala Test © AFP

Gujarat Lions head coach and former Australia batsman Brad Hodge has just stopped short of suggesting that India captain Virat Kohli may have excused himself out of the Dharamsala series-decider keeping in mind the rigours of the tenth season of Indian Premier League, that starts on Wednesday (April 5).

"You'd hope as a sportsman that he's seriously injured," Hodge was quoted telling Fox Sports News' Gameday Live.

"Because if you miss one game of Test match cricket and you're fronting up the next week for RCB [Royal Challengers Bangalore] versus whoever ... you'd be pretty dirty if he didn't front up to a Test match and try and win a valuable series against Australia.

Kohli had injured his right shoulder while fielding during the third Test in Ranchi and had made it amply clear in the build-up to the fourth Test that he would play only if he is a 100 percent fit. His confession was in alignment with team India's recent fitness-focused regime that stresses on being match-fit rather than just niggle-free, but Hodge, presenting the alpha counterside of things, reckoned that if not for something very serious, the Indian captain should have played in Dharamsala, especially with the series tantalizingly poised at 1-1.

"You would think that your captain would get out there and get amongst the fight and get in there."

When Hodge was probed further on his suspicions that Kohli might have saved himself for IPL, he said: "It's happened before."

"He gets paid a helluva lot of money - he gets paid a helluva lot of money anyway, so it doesn't matter - but there are certain players who will limp in to IPL time, to make sure they get there and perform well, because it is an important tournament for everyone around the world.

"I'm hopeful, as a Gujarat Lions coach, that when we play RCB in a couple of weeks that he's not playing."

Royal Challengers Bangalore play their first game on April 5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and do not face Hodge-coached Gujarat Lions until April 18 at Rajkot.

© Cricbuzz

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