IPL 2022: Virat Kohli Is Open To Take A Break And Would Speak With Rahul Dravid About It

Updated - 20 May 2022, 05:21 PM

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli. (Photo: IPL)

Virat Kohli is open to the notion of taking a break from cricket to “regenerate” his mental state and get out of the slump he’s been in recently.

Kohli stated that he will “certainly address” it with India’s management, particularly head coach Rahul Dravid.

Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli
Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter)

Having struggled for regular appearances across formats, Kohli said he was in the “happiest phase” of his life and that he was “batting well.”

Although many have expressed dismay over Kohli’s striking problems, former India head coach Ravi Shastri was the first one to call the former India skipper “overcooked” and suggest he take a break.

Kohli said he had heard Shastri’s statements and believed that a sabbatical would be a “good” alternative for him, particularly because he has spent more than a decade on cricket’s conveyor belt, including time as a skipper.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli. (Photo: IPL)

In an interview with Star Sports, Kohli said, “That’s not a large number of people who addressed it (taking a sabbatical).

“Ravi Bhai is the one that has specifically highlighted it, but that is because he has witnessed the actuality of my condition from close quarters for the last six-seven.

“The quantity of cricket I’ve played, the highs and lows, and the toll of playing three formats of the season especially the IPL nonstop for 10-11 years, with seven years of leadership in between.”

‘It is indeed simply a matter of finding a balance and maintaining it’: Virat Kohli

If Kohli chooses to take a break, he claims it will provide him with the “mental reset” he wants to deliver at his best.

“So I don’t see any issues. It’s a good thing to consider, especially considering how much cricket we play nowadays and how much cricket I’ve played in the last 10-11 years.”

Virat Kohli. Photo-IPL
Virat Kohli. Photo-IPL

“It is just a matter of getting the ideal balance for you as an individual moving ahead, and I’ll talk to everyone involved – Rahul Bhai, the Indian team management, everybody – to figure out what’s best for myself and the team.”

Kohli hasn’t scored a century in any format since November 2019, and his current IPL average of 21.45 is his lowest since 2008 when he averaged 15.

Also Read: India Will Rule Test Cricket With Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant In The Team: Virender Sehwag

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IPL 2022 Rahul Dravid Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Virat Kohli