Chris Woakes endorses Virat Kohli's participation in the County Championships

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one such platform that unites the different cricketers who happen to represent their respective teams on the international stage but are privileged to share the same dressing room during the course of the IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) overseas recruit Chris Woakes was recently asked to state his views on his RCB skipper Virat Kohli’s upcoming debut county stint.

The Indian captain has officially confirmed his association with English County side, Surrey, for the upcoming domestic season in the summer, which will help the batsman to improve his game while acclimatizing well in the English conditions.

Overseas cricketers strengthen the standard of County cricket: Woakes

India will be touring England to play 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and 5 Test matches in a long trip, which is scheduled between July 3 to September 7. Woakes revealed that it is the decision of county teams whether to sign Indian players before the upcoming series against them. The English fast bowler mentioned that the presence of overseas cricketers has improved the standard of County Cricket.

“If the counties are willing to sign Indian players heading into a series, then so be it. The good thing about county cricket is that we get really good overseas players, which makes the standard of the county game stronger,” said Woakes in a conversation as quoted by Sky Sports.

He also mentioned that it will be a great learning for the young guys to bowl to a successful batsman like Kohli and will make the competition a lot more competitive. Woakes reckoned that the youngsters who will be playing with Kohli or against him will be getting a better exposure of the game before they make their way into the international circuit.

“Getting the opportunity for young guys to bowl at the likes of Virat Kohli can only help the county game and make it a better competition for guys to play in and a better experience for guys going into the international arena,” he further added.

Woakes has a funny wish for Virat

In a complete sporting and comical manner, Woakes made a wish that Virat should not score many runs in his debut county season, as that will be better for the England team in their upcoming series. The English all-rounder also mentioned that since the county stints of the overseas cricketers is beneficiary for the county cricket, there is no problem in association with these players.

“Hopefully he doesn’t score too many runs, so he’s not in too good a form come the series. But like I said, if it’s improving the standard of the county game, then so be it. I don’t really have a problem with it,” concluded the England fast bowler.

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