India superstar Virat Kohli needs ‘extended break’ from cricket, says England legend Steve Harmison

India superstar Virat Kohli needs ‘extended break’ from cricket, says England legend Steve Harmison
India superstar Virat Kohli needs to take an ‘extended break’ from cricket, according to former England fast bowler Steve Harmison. Kohli is going through the most difficult period of his career, with his last international century coming in 2019. The 33-year-old has only passed fifty once in his last 14 innings and struggled during India’s recent tour of England, scoring 76 runs across six innings.
Kohli was left out of India’s squad for their limited-overs tour of West Indies and Zimbabwe but will make his return in the Asia Cup later in the month. ‘I think Virat Kohli needs a break,’ England legend Harmison told Online Cricket Betting . ‘You can never write off great players, they will always come back.
‘I played against Brian Lara many times and often he wouldn’t look like scoring a run, and then he got 400! Great players always come good and I have no doubt Kohli will find his best form again. ‘He might need an extended break where he has two or three months away from the game to spend some time with his young family and then come back to the game with a spring in his step. ‘Kohli is so important to cricket because he has a fantastic attitude to Test cricket, the game needs Kohli at this moment in time, no matter his form.
‘I want him to play for as long as possible because he’s a great of the game and sends the right message. He can overstep the line every now and again but that’s passion and we can never drive that out of the game. ‘Kohli may need a break but he will come good again and score runs, maybe in the T20 World Cup in Australia.
’ Kohli has admitted it is difficult to maintain his mental health amid the pressure and scrutiny that comes from being a former India captain and generational talent. England vs South Africa test series: How to watch on TV in the UK England playing a risky game by revealing tactics to South Africa Cricket culture war threatens to overshadow summer game Speaking to Indian Express , Kohli said: ‘For an athlete, the sport can bring the best out of you as a player but at the same time, the amount of pressure that you are constantly under, can affect your mental health negatively. ‘It is definitely a serious issue and as much as we try to be strong at all times, it can tear you apart.
‘My tips to aspiring athletes would be that yes, physical fitness and focus on recovery is the key to being a good athlete, but at the same time, it is crucial to consistently keep in touch with your inner self. ‘I personally have experienced times when even in a room full of people who support and love me, I felt alone, and I am sure that this is a feeling that a lot of people can relate to. ‘So, take out time for yourself and reconnect with your core self.
If you lose that connection, it wouldn’t take very long for other things to crumble around you. ‘You need to learn how to compartmentalise your time so that there’s balance. It takes practice like anything else in life, but it’s something worth investing in, that’s the only way to feel a sense of sanity and enjoyment while doing your work.
’ England Test captain Ben Stokes took a lengthy break from cricket last year to prioritise his mental well-being, while he retired from one-day internationals earlier in the summer, saying that playing all three formats was ‘unsustainable’. Meanwhile, Australia captain Meg Lanning announced earlier this week that she is taking an indefinite break from cricket for personal reasons. MORE : Lord’s turns Red for Ruth during England v South Africa Test match MORE : Tottenham striker Harry Kane takes on six-hitting challenge at Hundred match For more stories like this, check our sport page .
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