Virat Kohli's current form has been a matter of concern among his fans and experts, particularly with the Test series lined up in England. It is said that he is thinking of opting to play county cricket as a preparation for the series, which has stirred up his fans. Many believed that county cricket can help him regain his form since Gautam Gambhir has emphasized the importance of playing domestic cricket for any cricketer wanting to succeed in the longer version.

Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been criticized for not playing first-class cricket for more than ten years, whereas legends like Sachin Tendulkar played till the age of 40. Experts like Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan have also joined in the chorus that if Tendulkar could play at that age, then Kohli and Sharma should also do so.

The IPL Conundrum: A Difficult Decision

But things get complicated when it is revealed that if Kohli plays county cricket, he will have to miss the IPL. The IPL is scheduled from March 14 to May 25, while the England Test series starts on June 20. That would mean that if Kohli does play county cricket, he would miss the IPL matches, for which he is likely to open for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

The conundrum now, will Kohli give up the money-spinning IPL for the sake of national duty? If he doesn't play county cricket then how will he get his form back for the England series? Kohli has not scored runs consistently for the last five years, and his selection in the national team has been questioned.

The pressure is now on Kohli and Rohit. If they wish to play for India, why not play county cricket? The money involved in the IPL makes it a difficult choice. Kohli, once a dominant force in Australian conditions, struggled in the recent series, averaging just two runs over nine innings and often getting out to off-stump deliveries. His technique has come under the microscope, and although he has been recommended to play domestic cricket, he hasn't gone that way.

The Impact of IPL Performance on International Success

The question is whether Kohli will have the courage to keep county cricket ahead of IPL or is this just rumors to keep up his public relations image. Performance in the IPL does not necessarily translate into success in international cricket, as seen in the recent T20 World Cup where Kohli struggled despite scoring over 700 runs in the IPL.

The county matches are starting in April, and the Test series is scheduled in June. This means that if RCB fails to qualify for the playoffs, Kohli may join the county circuit. It is unlikely that he would leave the IPL after being retained by RCB for 21 crores. The franchise would want to get their money's worth, and without Kohli, their chances of success would go down.

As is widely noted, the choice between IPL and county cricket is a difficult one for Kohli. Balancing both is not feasible, and whichever way he decides, it will be a landmark moment in his career and for Indian cricket.