IPL 2022: You don’t become a bad player overnight – AB de Villiers on Virat Kohli’s poor form

Former South African captain and RCB batter AB de Villiers reckons you don’t become a bad player overnight, while commenting on Virat Kohli’s poor form.

Kohli has struggled to get going in IPL 2022 as he has only amassed 186 runs in 10 matches at an average of 20.67 and a strike rate of 116.25, which is well below his lofty standards.

In fact, Kohli has been dismissed for a single-digit score on five occasions, including two back-to-back golden ducks. However, Kohli got back into some form as he scored 58 runs against Gujarat Titans in the team’s previous match of the season. But the talisman took 53 balls to score his runs and his low strike rate was an issue.

Meanwhile, AB de Villiers has observed Virat Kohli from close quarters and he is confident that his good friend will bounce back stronger.

“As a batsman, you are only one or two bad knocks away from bad form. If it keeps coming at you it is difficult to bounce back from it,” de Villiers told AFP news agency.

“I cannot put a percentage to it but it is the mind and power of the mind which is the main battle,” he said.

AB added that one needs a clear mind and energy to get the best out of himself and Kohli has been doing that for a long time.

“You do not become a bad player overnight. Virat would know it and I know it. I think it’s the way you think and set your mind. You need a clear mind and fresh energy whenever you play and then you can find a way out of a hole,” he added.

Kohli has all the experience under his belt and he will look to come back stronger to deliver the goods for RCB. The linchpin is a pivotal cog in RCB’s wheel and the franchise’s success will be directional proportional to Kohli’s form.

Kohli will be seen in action against defending champions Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday.