Why Virat Kohli "Needs To Take Complete Off From Cricket", Ex-Pakistan Star Explains

17.07.2022 - 11:25 sports.ndtv.com

Virat Kohli's poor batting form continues as the player is yet to play any noticeable knock in India's ongoing tour to England.

The right-handed batter was a part of the playing XI in the fifth and rescheduled Test match in which he scored 11 and 20. Kohli was then rested from the first T20I against England before making a return to the team only to score 1 and 11 in the remaining two matches.

Kohli also missed the first ODI against England due to a groin strain before returning to the team for the second ODI. He was dismissed for a 25-ball 16 in the game.

While a lot of former and current cricketers have come out in support of Kohli during his lean patch with the bat, many have suggested that the player should be dropped from the team.

cricket England Cricket Team Virat Kohli India Pakistan

The Indian women's cricket team will begin its campaign at the Commonwealth Games on Friday against Australia at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Indian team is grouped alongside Australia, Pakistan and Barbados in Group A. Ahead of the fixture against Australia, Virat Kohli wished the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side luck for the entire event.

"Don't Think We Have Any Right...": India Batter On Why Virat Kohli Should be Left Alone

Virat Kohli's form off late has become a huge talking point, and the big scores have not come for the batter. In the recently-concluded ODI series against England, Kohli failed to get into his groove and he registered scores of 16 and 17. Before that, he had failed in the Edgbaston Test and the T20I series against England as well. The batter has now gotten the support of Robin Uthappa, as the T20 World Cup-winner said that the batter needs to be left alone as he knows how to deal with things.

"A Wrong Signal": Ex-India Captain On Why Resting Virat Kohli Is A Bad Idea

Virat Kohli's current form is a hot topic of discussion. Not only has the former Indian cricket team captain failed to score a ton since 2019, his current form also fails to inspire confidence. He had a forgettable recent Tour of England too, where he could not score big in any of the three formats. Kohli is not part of the ODI and T20I squad for the Tour of West Indies. There has been no official communication about whether he has been dropped or rested. However, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar believes that Kohli can only get back to form if he plays.

"If There Was Some Other Out Of Form Player...": World Cup Winner Says This On Virat Kohli's Place In The Indian Cricket Team

Virat Kohli's lean patch is currently one of the most-discussed topics in Indian cricket. The former Indian cricket team has failed to produce big scores in recent times. Some former Indian players have started questioning his place in the Indian cricket team, while others have backed the long rope being given to him. Kohli is not part of the ODI or the T20I squad for the upcoming Tour of West Indies. Many have wondered whether Kohli should be picked for the 2022 T20 World Cup or not, based on current form.

Virat Kohli "Shouldn't Take So Much Time To Get Back In Form": India Legend On Star Batter

The legendary Kapil Dev wondered if Virat Kohli was indeed rested or ignored for the upcoming five T20Is against the West Indies, hinting that the word "dropped" may have been avoided as he "is not an ordinary" cricketer. Kohli's lean run is now into its third year, the modern-day great last scoring an international century in 2019, something that recently prompted Dev to say that the team management can't go by reputation only. The former India skipper will not feature in the the five-match T20I series against the West Indies, to be played in the Caribbean and the United States from July 29.

People can only dream about what you've done in cricket: Kevin Pietersen backs Virat Kohli

Kevin Pietersen on Saturday threw his weight behind the out-of-form Virat Kohli, saying that he should be proud as "people can only dream about" what he has achieved. The former Indian skipper is enduring a wretched run with the bat and has failed to score a century since November 2019. "You go big guy! People can only dream about what you've done in cricket. And they're some of the best players that have played the game," Pietersen wrote in a social media post.