Former Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Hafeez feels that India's star Virat Kohli is facing the same problem that pacer Hassan Ali is going through.
Kohli has been going through a rough phase with the bat for a long period. Things have turned this much worse for him that even a player of his calibre is getting criticized for blocking the way of youngsters.
Having scored his last century in 2019, he is now even struggling to score a half-century. The recent white-ball games against England were horrendous for him as he manage only 45 runs across two T20Is and two ODIs he played and made 20 and 11 in the rescheduled Test at Edgbaston.
On the other hand, Hassan Ali has also struggled to make his presence felt with the ball and was also recently dropped from the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup 2022.
Speaking to Dawn, Mohammad Hafeez said that Kohli is having the same problem Pakistani speedster Hassan Ali is facing. He feels that the Indian batter had too much mental pressure and resting him was the best decision.
“Virat Kohli is one of the best players of the past 10 years. I think he is also facing the same problem.. he needed a break because he had too much mental pressure. Their decision to rest Virat for this series was the best decision for him,” said Hafeez on Dawn.
Calling Kohli an impact player, Hafeez said that every player needs a break and BCCI made a good decision and it will help him to regain his form.
"I think Virat Kohli is an impact player. In the past 2-3 years, we saw that the impact wasn't there. Even when he scored the half-century against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup last year, that was, to me, impactless. Until you can't bring an impact, there's no point of you playing.
“Every player requires a break. The Indian board made a good decision. This break will help him get back to becoming an impact player. He had lost his impact,” he said.
Since the England tour, Kohli has been rested and is expected to return for the Asia Cup. His return would be crucial for the Indian team considering T20 World Cup is also around the corner.
(The Dawn inputs)
