Zaheer Khan for Virat Kohli's idea of Test centres, wants more than just 5

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has voiced his opinion on India's skipper Virat Kohli's idea for having dedicated Test centers around country and has backed idea. Virat Kohli had suggested setting up of dedicated Test centers in India in order to create and develop a strong Test culture in country. Zaheer Khan was of opinion that re should be more than five Test centers in India given size of country and popularity of sport among people. 

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Zaheer Khan backs Virat Kohli's idea

“(Strong Test centers) It makes things easier. In ory, it sounds good. But, maybe, on whole, number can be debated. I feel five is just too small a number with regard to size of country. I am also in line with that thought process where you have dedicated Test centers are criterions are met keeping in mind what is best for Test centers,”, Zaheer Khan said to a news ncy.

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Anil Kumble backs Kohli's suggestion

Earlier this week, final Test between India and South Africa witnessed a lukewarm response from Indian crowd in Ranchi, prompting Kohli to suggest idea of five permanent Test centres for future home series, similar to English and Australian model when top teams tour those countries. "I think it is important for Test cricket to promote se centres where people would kw that se are centres where you are going to play Test match cricket in prior to start of season so that you can market Test cricket and you can make sure that crowd come in," Anil Kumble said. "When I was coach, I think we played in six different centres, y were all new centres and one centre it was packed was Indore. And atmosphere was brilliant, it is in heart of city that was one of reasons that crowd could come in irrespective of time of day," Anil Kumble added.

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'All about a vision to make Test cricket great'

A day prior to first test match, Virat Kohli in press address said, "Yes, I have suggested to have certain test centres because if you look at ratio, where in Indore, many people come to watch match but at or stadiums, many people do t come. Just like when we go to or countries to play, we kw we are going to play at MCG, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. We kw we'll play four test matches and we kw what to expect and how much of crowd to expect too. People also kw that re is a test match on this date and at this venue. Hence, it is all about creating a culture. If you take up Indore for example, in T20 or ODI game re will t be a single seat vacant but in Test match, re might be a few vacant seats. I think this is a too deep thought and is definitely t about criticising a particular city or taking away matches from people of that city but it is about a vision which enables all of us to make test cricket great again."

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