After struggling with the bat for over a year, former India skipper Virat Kohli took a much-needed mental health break ahead of the Asia Cup 2022. Soon after his return, the ‘King’ of Indian cricket managed to find his form and finished as the second leading run-scorer in the Asia Cup and the leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup.
Sharing his reaction on Virat’s wonderful return to international cricket, former head of India’s selection committee, MSK Prasad said that he (Virat) the player is in dire need of a mental health break to rebuild himself. He believes that even the greatest players go through situations like this and Virat surely knew how to overcome it.
During a recent interaction with Rediff.com, MSK Prasad said, “Even great players will have certain periods where their curve will be a little down. These players have played for the country for around 10-15 years. Has done well so he knows how to come back when he has lost form. He really needed a mental break more than anything else. Had a bit of a tough time, but he kept playing which accumulated a lot.
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He further said, ‘I felt he should have taken a break much earlier, probably immediately after the (T20) World Cup (2021). Since he has taken a break before the Asia Cup (in 2022), we have got back the real Virat Kohli, who we saw scoring a lot of runs like in 2016.
The 47-year-old also said that Virat Kohli is at his best at the moment. He believes that the break has extended his (Virat’s) career by 4-5 years and everyone can witness the greatness of the run machine once again.
Elaborating on this, MSK Prasad said, “He is at his best now, he is in the right frame of mind. I am sure the tough times he has gone through in the last few years will make him a Will only make a better player and a stronger personality.
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He concluded by saying, “I think the break has actually pushed his career forward by 4-5 years. He is the kind of character who needs challenges, and he has accepted challenges and come through. He took a lovely break and he got himself well and we’ve got the old Virat Kohli back.”
