Virat Kohli has been struggling for runs for a long time now. The right-handed batsman has played in every format on the England tour but hasn’t breached even the 50-run mark. He only managed 31 runs in the one-off Test and was dismissed for 1 and 11 in 2 T20Is. In the 2nd ODI, Kohli struggled after a fine start and was caught for 16 off 25.
He will have a one-month off from competitive cricket after the 3rd ODI. Kohli hasn’t scored a century since November 2019 and has batted more than 100 times without breaching the elusive mark at any level. He has struggled for big scores since the resumption of the sport and the wait to score his the 71st century is extending with every series.
Kohli has scored only 158 runs in 7 ODI matches so far in 2022 and is currently struggling for runs in the short-format as well. On Thursday (July 14), Kohli was dismissed for 16 off 25 balls in the second ODI between India and England.
After Kohli’s dismissal, Babar posted a picture of himself with Kohli captioning it,
“This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli”
This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ozr7BFFgXt
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) July 14, 2022
On the eve of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Babar had addressed a press conference and he was asked about his tweet on Kohli. Babar said during a press conference,
“As a player myself, I know you can go through such a phase (out of form) and I also know what a player goes through in such a phase. In those times, you need support. I just tweeted thinking that it will give just some support. He is one of the best players.”
🗣️ The more we back him, the better.
Babar Azam doubles down on his support for Virat Kohli. 👍#ViratKohli #BabarAzam pic.twitter.com/ZYHQyYtu6s
— SportsViz (@viz_sports) July 16, 2022
The fact that a current Pakistan cricketer passed on such comments made fans engage with the tweet in such a manner. Babar is rated as among the top batters in world cricket currently and enjoyed a huge fandom. He is rated as highly as Kohli today.
Virat Kohli responded to the Babar Azam tweet, and wrote,
“Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best 👏”
Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best 👏
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) July 16, 2022
Fans also reacted to the incident and shared their views
GOATS 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/LBCQaPhxLW
— Captain Jack Sparrow (@abdulrehmanedge) July 16, 2022
Scenes in PCB head office pic.twitter.com/shsfG7NMMW
— Nikhil. (@fundoozx) July 16, 2022
hahaha yar hmb dono desho k log kitny ajeeb hai, Nafrat ma had sy barh jaingy jb piyar karaingy to koi hamare jasa piyar na kar paye ❤
— Danish Ali Awan (@_Danishhere) July 16, 2022
Cricket fans in Pakistan and India are eagerly waiting to see Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in one frame no matter play together or against each other but unfortunately one man ie Narendra Modi has become the only barrier between cricket fans of Indo-Pak! #ViratKohli #BabarAzam
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) July 16, 2022
India play England in the 3rd ODI on Sunday (July 17) and both teams would be looking for a win as the three-match series is tied 1-1. India beat England comprehensively in the 1st ODI by 10 wickets. But England came back strongly to make it 1-1, with a massive win over Indians in the 2nd ODI.
Rohit Sharma will be hoping that his best batter in the lineup Virat Kohli comes back to form in the last game of the tour. India fly to West Indies for the T20s later this month and Kohli is not part of the squad as he has been given a rest.