‘I just need Virat Kohli to have a day off’- Former World Cup winner’s bold statement ahead of India vs England

Virat Kohli has finally moved on from the poor form that has plagued him for the past year. Kohli, who had a major slump in the first half of 2022, returned to form during the Asia Cup in September. He scores two fifties and a century, his first in more than three years, en route to becoming the tournament’s leading run-scorer.

If that wasn’t enough to persuade the doubters, Kohli is carrying on where he left off in the UAE in the ongoing 20-20 World Cup. Kohli leads the charts with 246 runs and three half-centuries at a staggering average of 123. The former captain was instrumental in India’s run to the semi-finals.

Kevin Pietersen has made an unusual remark as the focus shifts to India’s next stop – the semifinal against England. The former England captain recalled how he supported and stood up for Kohli during his rough patch but now wants him to take a day off at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. While Pietersen, like many others, is overjoyed to see Kohli return to form, the former maverick batter doesn’t mind if Kohli’s bat remains silent against his team.

It’s just so good to see the greatest current player back in the runs: Kevin Pietersen

“I backed Kohli throughout the little loss of form that he had, and he’s had a lot to deal with. He is an entertainer, he needs crowds, he needs that buzz, he needs that excitement. He didn’t have that for a few years, and he lost his way. But the crowds are in, it’s a T20 World Cup in Australia – one of the greatest places to play T20 cricket – and the King is back. As a close friend, I’m very happy for him, but I just need Virat to have a day off,” Pietersen wrote in his blog for Betway.

“It’s just so good to see the greatest current player back in the runs, not only from India’s perspective but for the world of cricket. For India, he’s such a major component for them to start seeing some consistency. When Virat plays well, the other players start to perform around him. You saw that with Suryakumar Yadav and the innings he played against Zimbabwe; it was just spectacular. When your talisman is back, it helps massively,” he added