Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recently suggests star cricketer Virat Kohli not to focus much on scoring runs when he was once again playing at Ranji level with Delhi. The crowd in attendance at the match was a near-record turn-out of cricket enthusiasts waiting with bated breath to catch a glimpse of their favorite cricketer, one die-hard fan even having bucked the security cordon to run onto the field and touch Kohli’s feet while he was stationed in the slips.
Harbhajan Singh Advises Virat Kohli To Enjoy
While for Harbhajan, his focus is not so much on Kohli’s runs tally but more about the delight he exhibits about the game and how young players can be inspired through him. Kohli returns to domestic cricket at a time when his form has not been anything close to the best. In 2024, the 36-year-old could score only 655 international runs in 23 matches across all formats, with an average of 21.83, including one century and two fifties. His highest score of the year was an unbeaten ton in Perth against Australia.
“Virat Kohli is a role model. Youngsters will look up to him. If he scores runs or doesn’t, it is a different matter. If I was Virat Kohli, it would be to enjoy. When we start playing cricket because we enjoy it,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
Virat Kohli’s Achievements Are Very Big
“When you reach Virat’s level, the pressure and expectations take the front seat while enjoyment takes the back seat. I want him to enjoy the game and tell youngsters how to be Virat Kohli,” he added.
“When he goes out to bat, he should occupy the crease and spend three to four hours. Even if Virat scores zero, he will still be Virat Kohli. He will never be a lesser player. His achievements are very big. He should occupy the crease, and if he does that, he will score runs,” he added.
Harbhajan, however, has a simple piece of advice to help Virat break his run drought which is to just “Occupy the crease”. The former spinner is confident that with time spent at the wicket, the runs will eventually come.
