Virat Kohli not in favour of four-day Tests

Four-day Test matches could become mandatory as part of the World Test Championship from 2023, with the ICC likely to formally consider the change in 2020.

India recently played Day/Night Tests and that’s the extent of the change Kohli would like in the five-day version for now.

India skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday rejected the idea of having four-day Test matches, saying the five-day format should not be altered.

Asked about his opinion on the idea of conducting four-day Test matches, Kohli said there was no need of another format just to commercialize the game.

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“T20 was a revelation in introducing a new format. I was not in favour of, when I was asked about, the hundred-ball (format) and I said I'm not going to go and try myself out in another kind of format because there's already so much going on,” Kohli said.

“With Test cricket, day-night Test is the most that should be changed. Then you are purely talking about getting numbers and entertainment. I think the intent will not be right then because you will speak of three-day Test. I mean, where do you end? Then you will speak of Test cricket disappearing.

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“So, I don't endorse that at all. I don't think that is fair to the purest format of the game, how cricket started initially. Five-day Test matches is the highest of tests you can have at the international level. According to me, it should not be altered.

“Day-night is another step towards commercialising Test cricket and creating excitement around it, but it can't be tinkered with too much. I don't believe so,” he said.