The 60-years old Ravi shastri has declared that if against Pakistan in the Asia cup on August 28, talismanic India batter Virat Kohli gets a fifty in the side’s match, then the mouths of all critics will be quiet for the rest of the tournament.
For the Asia Cup in T20I format Kohli returns to the Indian team, kohli was last featured for the national team in July while the tour of England .
Kohli took the whole rest for white-ball tour of West Indies and ODIs against Zimbabwe.
Kohli was not in touch with his form and cricket. Since November 2019, he has not scored a single century in international cricket .
“No, I haven’t spoken to him but it’s not rocket science. Big players wake up in due course. They need a break; mental fatigue can creep in to the best in the world. There is not a single player in world cricket who has not gone through a bad patch. I am sure this downtime is not just for the body; it’s time to reflect.”
Shastri in a press conference said that organised by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Asia Cup 2022. “He would have reflected as to what he didn’t do right? What things he did absolutely right and should keep focusing on that. What he allowed to come into his mindset that was just not required or relevant? All these things come into play”.
Former coach further extended how the break from cricket would have replenished the young aggressive Kohli ahead of Asia Cup.
“You get an opportunity to then decide, what is the best future course of action is when you get on to the park again. Whether it is shot selection, or it is how you plan, when to shift gears in a T20 game, should I give myself more time or not. All that will have to come into play. Now it is time for him to execute those plans.”
Fast bowling legend and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram was bullish about Kohli getting back to form.
“Let me start off with the last year or so. Whatever I have been seeing on social media, Indian fans, against Virat Kohli, that most of them fans, press or maybe, are having a go at him unnecessarily. He is only 33, he is one of the greatest of all time of modern-era. He is averaging 50 in all the formats, including T20, he is averaging 50.”
“He is still fit as a fiddle; he is still one of the best fielders India has got. Form is temporary, class is forever and that is what Virat Kohli is. I am sure he will come back, he is a great player. I just hope that he does not come back against Pakistan. But in general, he will make a comeback.”
