After struggling with the bat for more than 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 get his form back and ended up as the second-leading run-scorer in the Asia Cup and the leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup.
Sharing his reaction to Virat’s marvelous comeback to international cricket, the former head of India’s selection committee, MSK Prasad stated he (Virat) player desperately needed a mental health break to rebuild himself. He believes that even the greatest of players go through these kinds of situations, and Virat for sure knew how to overcome that.
During a recent chat with Rediff.com, MSK Prasad said, “Even the great players will have certain times where their curve will be a bit down. These players have done well for the country for nearly 10-15 years, so they know how to come back if they lose their form. He actually needed a mental break more than anything else. He had a little bit of a tough time, but he kept on playing so that has piled up a lot.”
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He further added, “I felt he should have taken a break long time back, maybe soon after the (T20) World Cup (2021). Ever since he has taken the break before the Asia Cup (in 2022), we have got back the original Virat Kohli, whom we saw scoring lot of runs like in 2016.”
The 47-year-old also stated that Virat Kohli is at his best at the moment. He reckons that the break has pushed his(Virat’s) career by 4-5 years and everyone can once again witness the greatness of the run machine.
Elaborating the same, 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 couple of years will only make him a better player and a stronger personality.”
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He concluded by saying, “I feel the break has actually pushed his career forward by 4-5 years. He is the sort of character who needs challenges, and he has accepted that challenges and gone through it. He took a lovely break and he understood himself well and we have got back the Virat Kohli of the old.”
