'Test Cricket Is The Priority': Piyush Chawla Hails Rohit, Virat Kohli

image-lr0jjjinVirat Kohli celebrates during photo-op after second Test [X.com]

Two pillars of Indian cricket over the past several years have been Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have taken the side to greater heights with each passing year.

Both players, who are nearing the end of their respective careers, have constantly spoken about playing Tests for India for a longer duration, which explains the duo featuring in red-ball series in South Africa while giving the limited-overs leg a miss.

After losing the first Test at Centurion, India came back stronger in the second and final Test, winning the match by seven wickets and ensuring the two-match series ended in 1-1. 

Former India spinner Piyush Chawla, who has played under Sharma in Mumbai Indians, lauded the former and current skipper for prioritising Tests over other formats. Kohli finished the Test series in South Africa, with 172 runs, including a match-changing 46 at Newlands, while Sharma's aggressive captaincy helped bowlers blow South Africa away. 

Speaking to Star Sports, the leg-spinner stated how Kohli and Sharma wanted to perform in South African conditions, which are always challenging. 


Chawla applauds Kohli's spirit to play Tests

"If you ask you know they say Test cricket is the priority and when you walk on the road, on the streets as well, nobody says he (Virat Kohli) is a one-day cricketer, he is a T20 cricketer, everyone says he is a Test cricketer, so that's what makes a huge difference. That's why they opted out of the white-ball series and they wanted to play on this trip, because we all know, it's one of the most difficult places to go and perform."

Sharma and Kohli will next be seen in Tests, when India faces England in the upcoming five-match series commencing January 25.