IPL 2022: Virat Kohli Needs Time Off For India's Own Betterment - Salman Butt

Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt opined that Virat Kohli should take a break from playing cricket considering T20 World Cup later this year.

Kohli is going through a lean patch with the willow in his hand not just on the international stage but also in the IPL 2022.

Virat Kohli’s numbers in IPL 2022 so far

The former RCB captain has managed to aggregate 128 runs in nine innings at a poor average of 16.

Despite starting the season with an unbeaten 41 against Punjab Kings, Kohli’s woes to score big runs continue to haunt him.

In RCB’s last match against Rajasthan Royals, Kohli opened the innings with skipper Faf du Plessis.

Kohli smashed Trent Boult for successive fours in the first over as RCB were chasing 145. In the second over, Kohli toe-ended an attempted pull shot off Prasidh Krisha and lobbed a catch to Riyan Parag at the backward point. He walked off the pitch with a wry smile on his face and nine runs in 10 balls.

In his last five innings, Kohli has managed 22 runs, including successive golden ducks against Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Virat Kohli is a match-winner in his own rights: Salman Butt

Butt said Kohli is too much cooked at the moment and noted his form has dipped since relinquishing the captaincy role in all formats of the game.

“He needs time off and for India’s own betterment because they need him for the big events. He is a match-winner in his own rights. So probably he is too cooked at the moment,” Butt said on the Youtube channel Cricket Baaz with Waheed Khan.

“See, good or bad form is not a big thing for a player of his calibre but did you notice that his form has dipped significantly since losing captaincy in 2 formats. And he hasn’t had the most pleasant experience lately.

“The emotional aspect… whatever has happened to him in the last few months, Kohli has been hit emotionally,” he added. 

Despite Kohli’s lean patch it is unlikely for the senior batter to lose his spot in the Indian team.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Nothing Technical, Just A Break Will Do Fine – Sandeep Patil On Virat Kohli’s Terrible Form