The former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Hafeez reckons that the half-century the former Indian captain Virat Kohli scored against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the last year’s T20 World Cup was an “impact less” knock and that was very unlike Virat.
According to Mohammad Hafeez, who was in a conversation with Pakistani news network Dawn, the cricket that Virat Kohli has played during his career of 13-14 years, he has been able to make an impact with the bat most of the time, but it hasn’t been the case in the last couple of years.
Using India Vs Pakistan game of last year’s T20 World Cup as an example, Hafeez said that Kohli scored runs in that game too and he was, in fact, India’s highest run scorer in that game, but that knock didn’t have a match-winning impact and if an elite player can’t have a match-winning impact, he should take a break.
Mental pressure took a toll on Virat Kohli: Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Hafeez is of the view that there has been so much pressure of expectations on Virat Kohli over a period of time that it took a toll on him and the recent breaks that have been given to him from international cricket will be beneficial to him because it will help him reduce the mental pressure from himself.
"Virat Kohli will come back strong in Asia Cup." – Mohammad Hafeez (To Dawn news)
— Ishika Pandey (@Ishika_Pandey45) August 6, 2022
After the T20 World Cup last year, Virat has been rested from a no. of bilateral series. He didn’t feature in the 3-match T20I series against New Zealand which took place just after the World Cup and he was rested mid-way through the T20I series against West Indies too. Kohli then didn’t play in the T20I series against Sri Lanka and South Africa either and recently, he has rested for the ODI and T20I series against West Indies again.
However, Virat is likely to be selected for the two upcoming marquee tournaments, Asia Cup and T20 World Cup which are scheduled to take place in UAE and Australia respectively.
India likely to announce their squad for the Asia Cup by Monday. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul set to return.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 5, 2022
