IPL 2017: Ricky Ponting Hopes Virat Kohli To Bring Back Old Days
May 14, 2017 at 5:49 PM
The former Australian captain Ricky Poting has backed the Indian skipper Virat Kohli to be back in form soon. The former Aussie skipper has said that it’s a challenge for a batsman to continue his form in all the formats of the game for long and Virat has dealt with the same issue,
“It’s hard to maintain the levels that he’s maintained over the past 12 or 18 months across all three forms of the game. At some stage, it’s going to catch up and you’ll get a little bit mentally fatigued and a little bit off. He’s had a rest coming into this tournament with an injury, but if you’re not bringing confidence and form into T20 cricket and into the IPL … it can be a hard game to find your feet in,” Ponting told Cricket.com.au.
Further, Ponting said that it is the increased pressure on Virat Kohli in past few months that has resulted in this,
“The other thing maybe to think about with Virat is the last few months of his life, he’s probably been under more pressure than at any other time in his career. That Test series between Australia and India was probably one of the most hyped, one of the most spoken about, one of the most written about and the spotlight on the players and Kohli in particular in that series was probably stronger than ever before. The pressure of being the Indian captain is going to take a toll at some stage and it takes a pretty special character to do that for a long period of time,” he added.
Ponting’s views and words carry a lot of importance as till the series against Australia, Kohli was in a great form and had four double centuries in all the four-Test series India played before this and he was expected to carry his form into series against Australia as well.
As Ponting said, before the start, the series was a much-hyped one and yes it can be said that it’s the pressure to perform at the platform that was felt.
Another reason could have been that one and a half month ago, Kohli was also handed the captaincy of limited overs cricket as well and again, this could have been the another reason as it added to the pressure and Kohli failed to carry his dream run. His torrid form continued in IPL as well as he has just been able to score 250 runs in nine innings. As a skipper as well, he has failed to carry RCB side despite the team loaded with oodles of stars.
Surely, the Indian team will hope that the skipper will be back in form in Champions Trophy and lead the team from the front. Kohli’s form in the tournament will be the key for team India’s quest to defend their title.