Virat Kohli’s poor run of form in the IPL 2022 continued as the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper registered a golden duck against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday (April 19).

Kohli arrived in the middle after RCB lost opener Anuj Rawat for 4 in the first over and got out for a first-ball duck on the last delivery of the same over. It was a back-of-length delivery from Dushmantha Chameera and the veteran batter just pushed it for a simple catch to the fielder at point.

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After the game, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said Kohli is mentally “overcooked” and needs to take a break from cricket in order to serve the country for at least another six-seven years.

“I am going straight to the main guy here. Virat Kohli is overcooked. If anyone needs a break, it’s him,” Shastri told Star Sports.

“Whether it’s 2 months or a month-and-a-half, whether it’s after England or before England. He needs a break because he has got 6-7 years of cricket left in him and you don’t want to lose that with a fried brain.”

In IPL 2022 so far, Kohli has played seven innings and managed to amass only 119 runs at an average of 19.83 with the highest score of 48.

According to Shastri, players need to be handled with care and empathy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced them to stay inside bio-bubbles.

“When I was coach at the time when this first started, the first thing I said is ‘you have to show empathy to the guys’.

“If you’re going to be forceful, there is a very thin line there, from a guy losing the plot as opposed to him hanging in there and giving his best. So you have to be extremely careful.”

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen also endorsed Shastri’s viewpoint, saying that Kohli should take time away from the game as well as social media to rejuvenate himself.

“…the guy has had so much to deal with, from marriage to baby to media scrutiny and all on his personal life. He is the biggest star on show,” Pietersen said.

“Virat Kohli needs to say ‘cricket boots, for six months, I will see you later’. Turn off social media, go and get re-energised.

“When the stadiums are full again, you guarantee him a spot in that side for the next 12, 24 or 36 months. Tell him ‘you’re our guy, we know you’ll deliver for us’.”

Pietersen further said that Kohli “is going to find it very hard to continue delivering now as his brain is completely fried”.

(With PTI inputs)