Test cricket means everything to Kohli, it bodes well for the format: Pietersen

London, Aug 19 (PTI): Virat Kohli’s enthusiasm and intensity on the field shows Test matches mean everything to him, according to former English cricketer Kevin Pietersen, who feels the Indian skipper’s passion for the format bodes well for red-ball cricket at a time when it needs “all the love it can get”.
The 41-year-old feels Kohli pushes himself to follow the footsteps of his heroes such as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who themselves are legends of the format.
“Knowing Virat Kohli the way that I do, I know the huge impetus he puts on following in the footsteps of his heroes. His heroes are Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and other legends of Test match cricket,” Pietersen wrote in his blog post for ”Betway.””Kohli knows that to be considered a legend of the game, he needs to deliver in this format as well as in T20.
“That’s why he puts so much importance on this format and at a time when Test cricket needs all the love it can get, how good is it to see a global superstar so passionate about it.”
Under Kohli, India became the number one Test team. They also qualified for the inaugural World Test Championship final, which they lost to New Zealand.
Earlier this week, the Indian team registered a memorable 151-run victory over England in the second Test at Lord’s.
“He values his team producing in all conditions, and so to have watched his team win in Australia and then have gone one up in England with a victory at Lord’s will satisfy him hugely.”