Virat Kohli faces more pressure than Steve Smith, Joe Root, Kane Williamson combined, claim ex-cricketers

Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel and Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal have stated that Virat Kohli faces more pressure compared to other batters in the "Fab 4." Parthiv Patel and Tamim Iqbal said that fans have higher expectations for Virat Kohli, as they expect him to score a century whenever he bats.

Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root are considered the top modern cricketing talents. Virat has fallen a little in recent times after scoring truckloads of runs over the last decade. The batter hasn't been at his best since 2023, as he has scored just two half-centuries and two hundreds.

We Expect Virat Kohli To Score 100 - Parthiv Patel

Virat Kohli has come under scrutiny after recording two low scores in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. Parthiv Patel said that he has set such high standards for himself that scoring 60 or 70 runs may feel like a failure.

"I don't think he's feeling that kind of pressure. And as you rightly mentioned that, I don't think Smith or Joe Root or Williamson can even think of the type of pressure he must be feeling. The pressure of expectation, that is huge," Patel said, as quoted by India Today.

"He has set his standard so high that even if he scores 60 or 70, that comes across as a failure. Because every time he walks in, we expect him to score 100. We expect him to play with that kind of intensity, which he has always been playing," he added.

The Delhi-born batter managed only 6 and 17 runs in his two innings in the first Test against Bangladesh at Chepauk. He was caught behind in the first innings after chasing a ball outside off-stump. The right-handed batter was given out LBW in the second innings after misjudging a fuller delivery.

The former Indian captain had struggled through a nearly two-year drought without a Test century. He ended his Test century drought in March 2023 and his last ton in July 2023. Overall, Kohli has scored 8,871 runs from 114 Test matches at an average of 48.74, including 29 centuries and 30 fifties.

Can't Win A Game Single-Handedly - Tamim Iqbal

In the same conversation, Tamim Iqbal highlighted Virat Kohli's unmatched legacy in white-ball cricket. He said that Kohli's contributions to India's success are unparalleled compared to the other members of the "Fab 4."

The veteran Bangladeshi opener acknowledged that all four have excelled in Test cricket, but Kohli has won numerous games single-handedly. Iqbal also noted that Kohli faces more pressure than the other three players combined.

"And also, I think yes in Test match cricket, the Fab 4 that we are talking about have done wonders. Because in Test match cricket, basically as a batter, you can't win a game single-handedly. There are two innings and everything," Tamim said.

"But we also call them Fab 4 in white-ball cricket and hands down, in what Kohli has done for India, amount of games that he has won single-handedly, I'm pretty sure none of the other three has won that many of the games. And as you mentioned because of the amount of pressure that he goes through, I think those three combined do not have the similar pressure," he added.

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