'Virat Kohli's average is getting higher but he's not...' - Mohammad Rizwan makes 'average player' remark

Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has shared a mindset used by Virat Kohli which he adopted to play different formats. Mohammad Rizwan said that like Virat Kohli, he does not focus on averages but rather takes note of match situations to excel in both ODIs and T20Is.

Virat Kohli is one of the best batsmen in international cricket to excel in all forms of cricket. Kohli has an average of 50+ across all three formats after playing over 100 games in each format. His Test average has fallen to 49.16 in recent times, however, he has averaged 50+ in the longest format for most of his career.

Notably, ODI and T20I require quite a different approach by batters. While batters need to bat with patience in ODIs without caring much about their strike rate, they need to bat at a high strike rate in T20Is. This shift has often made it hard for many batters to adjust in both formats.

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Big players like Virat Kohli will look at the team and the situation: Mohammad Rizwan

Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan is another player like Virat Kohli, who has done a fabulous job in both ODIs and T20Is in recent years. Rizwan also makes a lot of adjustments in ODIs and T20Is. For instance, he plays as an opener in T20Is. However, in ODIs, he takes a spot in the middle-order.

During an interview with Cricbuzz, the Pakistan star revealed how he adjusts his batting in ODIs and T20Is. The right-handed batter revealed Virat Kohli’s mindset which he adopts to adjust in both formats. The Pakistan wicketkeeper said that he focuses on the requirements of the team and the match rather than his average.

“Firstly the teams that you are representing keep that [role] in front and if you think of yourself in that case… like players who think like let me save myself, he won’t go far. Those players who look at averages are average players”, the 31-year-old said.

“If someone is performing it will be there in the stats for people to see, like say India’s Virat Kohli, he is getting his average higher but he is not focusing on that because average players looks at average and big players will look at the team and the situation and my focus remains on what is the requirement of the team”, said Rizwan, who is currently busy with Bangladesh Premier League 2024.

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Look at the board and play accordingly: Mohammad Rizwan

Mohammad Rizwan also noted that there is a lot of difference in playing the new ball in ODIs and T20Is.

“The team says Rizwan look at the board and play accordingly. I maintain the same thing in my own life too but it is not easy. In T20 playing the new ball and in ODI go after 25 overs when the ball is a bit old that is not easy and it is a mind game”, Rizwan concluded.

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Rizwan is part of Comilla Victorians in BPL 2024

Notably, Rizwan has been a decent performer for Pakistan across all three formats so far. He averages 40+ in Tests and ODIs. In T20Is, his average rises to 48+. He has featured in 30 Tests, 74 ODIs, and 90 T20Is for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan is part of Comilla Victorians in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League 2024. The right-handed batter has so far hit 85 runs in 5 games with a top knock of 21 in one match.