Virat Kohli may have not scored a hundred since November 2019, there's no doubt about his capability, talent, and attitude. As is often said in sports, form is temporary but class is permanent and Virat Kohli is all class. Widely regarded as one of the all-time greats of the game, Virat Kohli was well on his way to breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 international tons in international cricket when he struck his 70th century against Bangladesh in Kolkata 31 months ago. At the time, who would have thought that Virat Kohli – a man who used to tick the three-figure mark in every seventh outing, would struggle to even make runs, not just hundreds. It has been a slump that has shown no signs of ending. Despite Virat Kohli's problems, former cricketers continue to hold him in high esteem and have shared their concerns about his lack of form. A legendary Pakistan cricketer, who also believes that the former India captain is one of the greatest batters the world has seen, has now revealed how he would have attacked Virat Kohli with the ball during his prime. Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan left-arm pacer, who wreaked havoc in the minds of batters with his foot-breaking yorkers and unplayable out-swingers has claimed that he would have multiple plans in place for Virat Kohli. In case one ploy didn't work out, he would employ the other to get rid of the Delhi-born batter.

“I would have had a lot of confidence. If he came to bat at 3 or 4, it means two wickets down. If he is new to the crease, then I would attack. Will make the ball pitch on middle stump, and swing it away, or towards him,” the former Pakistan captain said on the ‘To Be Honest' show by Nashpati Prime.

“If that doesn't work, I would switch to Plan B, which would be bowling the bouncer. Place the fielder in the deep and then put him back inside… making several such small chances are important to get the better of him,” Wasim Akram added.

Earlier his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma broke his silence on Virat Kohli’s woeful run with the bat and backed him to come good in the upcoming fifth Test against England at Edgbaston.

Rajkumar Sharma also spoke about the former India skipper’s rivalry with Joe Root who has been in sensational form of late.

In contrast to Virat Kohli, who hasn’t made a hundred in 31 months, Joe Root has been scoring centuries for fun since January 2021. In the last year and a half, Joe Root has struck 10 Test hundreds to put himself at par with his great contemporaries Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. All three superstars now have 27 tons in the longest format.

In the ongoing three-Test series against the Kiwis, Joe Root has made 305 runs at an exceptional average of 101.67. He has also scored back-to-back hundreds in the first two matches, hitting a match-winning unbeaten 115 at Lord’s before following it up with a delightful 176 at Trent Bridge in the next game.

“Both are fantastic players. A healthy rivalry is always there at the back of the mind, that he has come close to you or has gone ahead of you, or you are close to the other person’s record. You definitely think about it while sitting in the hotel or the dressing room,” Rajkumar Sharma told India News.

“You forget this rivalry when you go across the boundary line, then you only wait for the next ball and you have to see how to score your runs. You don’t get Joe Root or anyone else in your mind.”

“But currently it is required for Virat to play his natural game and make a big score, which he is searching for for a long time. I have full hope that he will do that soon because it has been a long time,” Rajkumar Sharma added.

“It has not been seen often in Virat’s entire career that he has such a long lean patch, in terms of triple figures, he has definitely scored runs otherwise, but his conversion rate was exceptional earlier, once he used to reach 30-35 runs, everyone used to believe that he will score big, a hundred will definitely be scored but lately that has not happened,” he concluded.

On Thursday, Virat Kohli showed glimpses of his old form in the four-day warm-up game against Leicestershire as he drove the ball beautifully through the covers and even hit a stunning pull shot of Prasidh Krishna for a six.

Throughout his innings, Virat Kohli was patient, allowing the ball to come onto his bat, and also left numerous deliveries outside his off-stump before being dismissed by Roman Walker for 33. Virat Kohli smashed four boundaries and a maximum in his entertaining knock during his stay at the crease.