Parthiv Patel, ex-Wicketkeeper-Batter of India, and Tamim Iqbal, a veteran Bangladeshi cricketer, have shared their opinions in favor of Indian powerhouse Virat Kohli as questions regarding the star batter’s form over the past few months arose. Kohli, who will go down as one of the finest batters in history has played 15 international matches across all formats representing India this year but only has one fifty to show for it. He could only score six and 17 runs in the first Test of the ongoing two-match series against Bangladesh.
Before the commencement of the second Test at Green Park, Kanpur, when asked whether he has been under pressure recently in comparison with the rest of the Fab Four members as Smith, Joe Root and Williamson are, Patel stated that he does not think there has been any pressure on Kohli.
“I don’t think he’s feeling that kind of pressure. And as you rightly mentioned, I don’t think Smith, Joe Root or Williamson can even think of the type of pressure he must be feeling,” said Parthiv.
“The pressure of expectation—that is huge. 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 always has.”
“But you have to understand that he is also getting older, but that zeal to play Test cricket and to do well doesn’t die, and it will never die, as long as Virat Kohli is playing Test cricket. But yeah, I don’t think he would be feeling that kind of pressure to perform. But the expectation from us is always higher because of the level he has set,” he added.
While addressing the issue Tamim also suggested that Kohli has won more matches while playing alone than Smith, Root, and Williamson combined.
“And if that’s the case, then I think yes, in Test match cricket, the Fab 4 that we are talking about are as good as it gets. Because in Test match cricket, basically as a batter, you can’t win a game by yourself. There are two innings and everything,” he said.
“But we also call them Fab 4 in limited overs cricket as well, and no offense to any of whom played their part for the country but the amount of games that Kohli has won single-handedly, there is no way the other three have won that many of the games. And as you pointed out, the level of stress that he goes through, I believe those three put together do not experience that much,” he said.
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