'Virat Kohli doesn't need a break, he is perfectly fine', says childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma

Virat Kohli's childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has backed the former India skipper after his dismal performance in the 5th Test against England at Edgbaston and asserted that he will be back with a bang. 

Virat Kohli, who has looked like a pale shadow of his once dominating self in recent times, failed to score an international hundred since the pink-ball Test match against Bangladesh in 2019, and his horrible form with the bat has become the talk of the town. 

The 33-year-old has again failed to make an impact with the bat in the fifth Test against England as he could only score 31 runs. Following his abysmal run of form, fans expressed their frustration on the internet and urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to give him a proper break. 

Amid his erratic run of form, Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma backed his beloved disciple and admitted that Kohli is going through a lean patch in his career. However, he further highlighted that this 'out of form' thing happens with all the players once in their career, and there is no need to give Kohli a break. 

"See, I understand that he (Virat Kohli) has failed to give a brilliant performance for a long time now but that happens to every good player. The ball on which he lost his wicket in the second innings of the fifth Test against England, was really great and could have dismissed any batter. There is no need to give a break to Virat as he is perfectly fine," Rajkumar Sharma told ANI. 

The renowned cricket coach further heaped praise on Kohli, saying whatever he has done for Team India till now, no other player has been able to do that, and hence he backs the batter to make a strong comeback. 

"Whatever he has done for Team India till now, no other player has been able to do that. I have full faith in him and he will be back with a bang," he added.

After a seven-wicket defeat in the one-off Test against England at Edgbaston, India will take on the Three Lions in a white-ball series comprising three T20s and as many ODIs. 

The three-match T20I series between the two sides will commence on July 7 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. For the first T20 match, senior players Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested. 

India's regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who missed the Edgbaston Test after testing positive for Covid-19, has recovered from the virus successfully and will lead the team in the white ball series.