Former England captain Kevin Pietersen believes that Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli surpasses the stature of football legend David Beckham in terms of star power.
Kevin Pietersen Claims Virat Kohli Is Far Ahead Of David Beckham
Pietersen highlighted into how Virat Kohli has handled the tremendous pressure of expectations throughout his career. He also pointed out that, due to Kohli’s enormous fame in India, the former captain’s lifestyle stands apart from that of other athletes.
Speaking to talkSport, KP said: “You guys have covered football for a very long time and you understand the gravitas that a guy like David Beckham has in England. He can’t do anything. The biggest stars, the Tendulkars, the Dhonis, the Kohlis, they live a completely different life.”
He added: “That weight of expectation of a billion people on his shoulders every single time he steps out in public is something that he’s had to deal with and he’s dealt with it remarkably well.”
Kohli Is Rested For First 2 Tests Against England
It has to be noted that Virat Kohli was initially included in India’s squad for the first two matches of the upcoming five-match home series against England. However, the 35-year-old has chosen to withdraw from the initial two games, citing personal reasons.
Kohli has chosen to sit out of several matches recently, citing personal reasons. In addition to missing the upcoming first two Test matches against England, he was also absent from the T20I series opener against Afghanistan earlier this year.
Furthermore, he opted out of India’s intra-squad match during the South Africa tour. Following the announcement of Kohli’s absence in the initial two Tests of the upcoming series, Kevin Pietersen urged fans to respect the seasoned campaigner’s decision.
Taking to the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “If a sportsman pulls out for personal reasons, RESPECT IT! End of!”
Check out the Tweet:
If a sportsman pulls out for personal reasons, RESPECT IT!
End of!— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) January 22, 2024
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