Picture Credit: ICC
India suffered a humiliating 100-run defeat against England in the second ODI at Lord's as they were bundled out for 146 runs. The Men in Blue had a great bowling performance but their batting failed the team. Former India captain Virat Kohli again failed to score big as he got dismissed for just 16.
Kohli was forced to miss the first ODI due to a groin injury. Now the right-hander hasn’t reached three figures in the last 77 consecutive international innings.
But Kohli has received support from Pakistan captain Babar Azam. After India’s defeat, Azam posted a heartfelt and support message to Kohli that said, “This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli.” Along with a picture of them together from the 2021 T20 World Cup.
India’s current captain Rohit Sharma defended Kohli and talked about how the latter doesn't need ‘reassurance’ and this dip in form is a part and parcel of the game. "He has played for so long, he has played so many matches, he is such a great batsman, so he doesn't need reassurance," said Rohit on Thursday (July 16). "I think in my last press conference I had told form keeps going up and down, I mean it is a part and parcel, whichever cricket player plays, it happens in everyone's career. “
Sharma then addressed how a player of his quality and ability will come out of this slump. He said, “But as I had said last time the quality of a player doesn't become bad, I think we need to keep that in mind, the guy has scored so many runs, you look at his average, he has scored so many hundreds, he has the experience of it. Until now no player has come who has done well whenever he has played. So a bit of slump will come, it comes in everyone's life."