'With Virat Kohli The Problem Is...': Ex-Pakistan Pacer Makes Bold Claim Ahead Of Asia Cup 2022

Former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed has given a bold statement while comparing Virat Kohli to Babar Azam.

Ex-India Skipper Virat Kohli (Pic Courtesy: AFP)

Virat Kohli in Asia Cup 2022: Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is all set to return to cricketing during the Asia Cup 2022. The star batter had sought rest from the BCCI after India's tour of England after which he missed the West Indies tour and is also not part of the national team for upcoming India vs Zimbabwe ODIs. Kohli is currently going through the worst form of his career, due to which some disappointed fans and cricket pundits keep giving various advice along with finding flaws in his batting. Now, former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed has given a bold statement while comparing Kohli to Babar Azam.

On Paktv.tv, Javed said that technically sound batsmen like Babar Azam, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root would rarely go through such a bad patch for so long as Kohli. Javed feels that Kohli is struggling so much because of the change in his technique. For the unversed, it is going to be almost 1000 days for Kohli without scoring a century in international cricket.

“There are two types of great players. One is players who, if they get stuck, their rough patch continues for a long time. The others are technically-sound players, whose rough patch cannot continue that long, like Babar Azam, Kane Williamson, Joe Root. It is difficult to find their weakness. Kohli gets stuck at times with those deliveries outside off stump. James Anderson has targetted that a million times.

Last day I was watching him bat and I felt that he is now consciously trying not to play those deliveries from a distance. When you change your technique, these problems will surface. To come out of it, he can try playing a big knock without being conscious. That will help him sustain a purple patch for a long time,” he explained.

“If Kohli doesn't perform, and India lose, they also face a similar situation like us. Then questions tend to arise that why didn't they play an in-form Deepak Hooda, suppose. But in UAE pitches, even out-of-form batters tend to find rhythm,” Javed added.