Matches Virat Kohli Should Play (and Leave) Before World Cup 2019 - By Tournament

The long England tour proved Virat Kohli's importance in the Indian cricket team yet again. But with three more important tournaments remaining, the year has already proved to be tiring for India's captain in all formats.

Virat, who missed the Nidahas Trophy in March, is also set to miss this year's biggest multilateral tournaments beginning next week - the Asia Cup.

Virat Kohli has been facing back issues owing to the tight scheduling and round-the-year cricket. Despite being one of the fittest cricketers on the circuit, a stiff back has forced him to be selective about his tournament choices.

With the Cricket World Cup scheduled to be played in June-July next year, there are few important tournaments Virat needs to be a part of. Let us have a look at the tournaments on India's schedule - and the games Kohli should play and the ones he can do without.

West Indies Tour of India - 2 Tests, 5 ODI's, 3 T20I's

Virat Kohli loves playing against the Windies, and many of his friends are from the Caribbean islands.

Though no international match can be taken for granted, India's home series against the West Indies is apparently the least challenging in this phase. The T20 World Champions managed to qualify for the 50-over World Cup next year by a narrow margin.

Including the World Cup Qualifiers, the Windies have had a mixed year overall - the home Test series against Bangladesh being their only saving grace. However, many talented players - such as Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, and Shanon Gabriel have finally come of age.

Chris Gayle has also changed his approach towards the 50-over game and is looking to bat long. West Indies, if anything, could be the surprise factor in next year's World Cup. But since the tournament is in India, and there is little India hasn't achieved against the Windies.

However, such a tournament would be a great opportunity to test India's bench strength before the World Cup and shortlist their Test squad before the Australian tour.

Matches that Virat Kohli Should Play: Out of a tour that would involve a maximum of 18 days of play, it would be an ideal mix for Virat Kohli to play for ten days. Since the Test series in Australia is important, he should play the Tests to build enough match practice for India's toughest tour in this phase.

It won't be a bad idea for Virat Kohli to play the two Test matches, and at least two T20's. Although ODI's look like the perfect balance for Virat right now, the shortest and longest format would give him just the practice he needs before the tournament.

An ideal combination would be:

2 Tests and 3 ODI's

OR

2 Tests and 2 T20I's

In any case, he shouldn't play all the full series in all the three formats.

India's Tour of Australia - 3 T20I's, 4 Tests, 3 ODI's

The Australia tour will be a battle of wits, something Kohli relishes.

If you thought that the England tour was tough, the Australia tour will be one notch up. Yes, they are without some of their best players. But playing against any Australian team at their home is a different experience altogether - something Virat can vouch for.

Intimidation is a part of their cricketing culture, and don't be surprised to witness sledging and a few broken bones.

Mitchell Starc would easily fill up for Mitchell Johnson, whose tiff with Kohli carried from the Test series right through to the World Cup 2015. Ideally, Rohit Sharma or someone else can lead the T20I squad and play those matches as well.

Matches that Virat Kohli should play: An ideal situation would be to have Virat lead India in the Test and the ODI series. The Test series is quite important - as India have never won a Test series in Australia - and Virat would hope to change this record.

The ODI series would be played in Australia - where the conditions are fast and conducive to swing bowling - despite the summer season.

India would have to face similar conditions in the World Cup and would love to face a challenging opposition in conditions that aren't tropical. India have not won a bilateral ODI series in Australia either, and Virat would love to set this record straight as well. Virat can very well skip the T20I series in Australia.

India's Tour of New Zealand - 5 ODI's, 3 T20I's

England-like conditions are more likely to be encountered in New Zealand, as compared to Australia.

The New Zealand tour would be the shortest of the scheduled tours India would participate in during this phase. With only 5 ODI's and 3 T20I's, it won't be a bad idea to have Virat in both squads.

He can then pick and choose the games he wants to play and the ones he wants to leave out. New Zealand is slightly cooler than Australia, and that is one reason this tour can help Virat and his team prepare for the World Cup.

This is the last overseas tour India would play before the World Cup. A challenging opposition like New Zealand, last World Cup's runners-up, would be the ideal challenge India would be looking forward to just months before the World Cup.

Even a 2-5 ODI series loss in New Zealand just before the 2003 World Cup helped India's preparations by testing their technique and temperament.

Australia's tour of India - 5 ODI's, 2 T20I's - Schedule Not Confirmed

A guest appearance in a potential home limited-overs series against Australia should do fine for Virat.

The Australians are likely to give India a return visit next February. The tour would most probably involve 5 ODI's and 2 T20I's. This tournament could offer good match practice between the champions of the last two World Cups.

However, both teams would look to provide opportunities to some of their younger players. India always announces the squads of their home tournaments in parts, and Virat and the team management should be the best judge to decide how many matches he should play in this phase, if he does so at all.

Zimbabwe's tour of India - One Test, 3 ODI's - Schedule Not Confirmed

Zimbabwe won't feature in World Cup, but would love to give India a surprise or two before their departure.

Zimbabwe is also planning a tour to India in March next year. Zimbabwe, the team that surprised everyone during the 1999 World Cup, missed the chance of playing in the World Cup for the first time in forty years.

The team was unfortunate to miss out - losing a qualification berth by a mere three runs in their last match against UAE. If Sikandar Raza's disappointment during the man-of-the-tournament presentation was anything to go by, you'd know how heartbroken the whole nation was.

However, their tour of India, if it is scheduled would be a short tour involving one Test and 3 ODI's. While Virat can easily skip both the series, he can appear in one or two of the one-dayers to experience the challenge of a growing team.

Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka on the latter's home soil in an ODI series last year. They came quite close to winning the Test series too.

Indian Premier League - 14 T20's in the group stage, 2-3 T20's in the knockouts

Virat Kohli values RCB, the franchise he's played with since the inaugural season, quite highly.

Virat Kohli is as passionate about his franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, as he is about his state team Delhi. But like most big players, Virat is more passionate about his country, and would not want to miss out on the opportunity to represent Indian in full fitness at the World Cup, owing to a hectic schedule.

The IPL season in 2018 was so hectic that it deprived Virat an opportunity to play England's county season due to injury. The injury troubled him again during the Lord's Test match last month, and can trouble him again if he doesn't limit his IPL exposure.

Virat Kohli, as well as most certain members of India's World Cup squad, should limit their IPL participation only to practice.

While it would be ideal for the Indian squad to start preparing in England one month before the World Cup, Virat should not play more than a maximum of four-five games during IPL 2019.

The players, as well as BCCI must ensure that their core squad only uses a handful of games during the IPL as a practice opportunity against world-class oppositions.

Indian Domestic Season 2018-19

Investing eight to nine days at the domestic circuit won't be a bad gamble for Virat.

The Indian Domestic Season this season includes the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over tournament), the Ranji Trophy (4-day tournament) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (20-over tournament) in the same order.

Since all of Delhi's eight group matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy would be played between 20 September and 8 October in Delhi, Virat can use one or two of these one-day matches to keep his 50-over momentum going. This tournament also comes at a time when India would be playing the Asia Cup, and he can get good match practice out of this tournament.

Delhi's opening Ranji game is against Himachal on 12th November. Though the venue is yet to be decided, it is most probably going to be played up North, and winters would have set in by then. Unless Virat is playing in the last T20I against West Indies on 11 November, he can use this match to find some form for the Australia Test series, as the conditions would be pitches would be hard as well as fast.

If he is not participating in the T20I series in Australia, he can alternatively participate in the Ranji Trophy game against Punjab on 28 November.

Even in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which begins in February, he should try to play a couple of games for Delhi that would be held in cold and swinging conditions like Delhi, Dharamsala, Mohali and the like. This would give him a feel of the conditions he and his team would be likely to face in the World Cup in England, that begins from May 30.

Other Indian cricketers should also be selective about the cricket they play during this phase. As for the junior team members, the management can apply a rotational policy to provide them with adequate rest and preparation time.