Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Babar Azam backs Virat Kohli: fans praise the Pakistan star | Babar Azam throws support behind Virat Kohli
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has backed Virat Kohli to recover from his current run of indifferent form. Kohli scored 16 off 25 deliveries as India succumbed to 146 whilst chasing a modest target of 247 runs in the second One Day International (ODI) of the India-England series at Lord’s.
The 33-year-old has been under fire from all quarters due to his waning returns with the T20I and ODI World Cups nearing in the coming year. Former cricketers like Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag and Venkatesh Prasad have publicly stated their thoughts on bringing in some new blood particularly in India’s T20 setup.
Now, the former India skipper seems to have found an unlikely seconder in Azam. In a short but significant tweet, the 27-year-old wrote, “This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli.” He also put up a picture of the duo from the India-Pakistan game from the World T20 last year.
Babar, Rohit back Virat Kohli to come good
Kohli and Azam seemed to share a warm camaraderie during and after the aforementioned T20 World Cup match in Dubai.
Amidst all the hullaballoo, captain Rohit Sharma has repeatedly reposed his faith on Kohli’s abilities and highlighted his incredible contribution so far towards Indian cricket. “Why is this discussion happening? I can’t understand this,” he responded to a journalist probing about Kohli’s form in the press conference after the second ODI.
Rohit added, “He [Kohli] has played so many matches. He is playing for so many years. He is such a great batsman so he does not need reassurance. I pointed to this in my last press conference, too: form goes up and down, that is part and parcel of any cricketer’s career.”
“So, a player like him, who has played for so many years, who has made so many runs, who has won so many matches, he only needs one or two good innings [to bounce back]. That is my thinking and I am sure all those who follow cricket will think similarly.”
Meanwhile, Kohli has been rested from the upcoming T20I series in West Indies that will commence from 29th July. Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal have also been given a break whereas KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the squad are subject to their fitness.
India will face off against England in the series-deciding third ODI at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Sunday. The team will then head off to the Caribbean for the limited-overs contests that will begin with the first game of the ODI series in Port of Spain on 22nd July.
Fans praise Babar for support of Virat
When asked about his tweet, Babar said, “Virat Kohli is one of the best players of all time, he knows how to come out of this, it takes time but we should back him”.
