'People Were Foolish ...', Kevin Pietersen Lashes Out at Virat Kohli's Critics 

image-lfum7e11Virat Kohli will play for RCB in IPL 2023 [Source: Twitter]

Former Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) teammate Kevin Pietersen has lashed out at Virat Kohli's critics for writing the star-batter off during his lean patch during the pandemic. Kohli's form between 2019 and 2022 was not one to be noteworthy, forcing several experts and a few former players to think that the former Indian captain was past his prime and needed to bid adieu.

Kohli, however, came back stronger and hungrier, slamming his 75th international hundred earlier this month, which was his fifth since September 2022.

Speaking to Betway, Pietersen, who shares a close bond with Kohli, said that people who wrote off the former RCB skipper were 'foolish', while revealing a personal chat with the batter during covid times. 

Here's what Pietersen said

"With Virat, I’ve known for a very long time. The way that he plays the game – so passionate, so abrasive, so emotional. I think Covid hurt him. I remember saying to him, “just chill, dude, it’s Covid, you’re an entertainer. You cannot play with three people and their dog watching you play cricket.

"To see him get that 75th hundred… People were foolish not to back him and not to support him."

The former England batter further compared the pressures of the IPL to that of the Champions League, having played in for franchises like RCB, Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers, and Rising Pune Supergiants.

Kohli will hope to continue his rich form in the IPL 2023 as well for RCB when they begin their campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians on April 2 at Chinnaswamy.