Shastri urges 'overcooked' Kohli to take break from cricket after latest IPL failure

Bangalore batsman out first ball against Lucknow to take his aggregate to 119 runs from seven matches

Lucknow Super Giants bowler Dushmanta Chameera celebrates after taking the wicket of Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Virat Kohli. Sportzpics for IPL

Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri has urged "overcooked" Virat Kohli to take an extended break from cricket after the batsman's lean spell continued in the Indian Premier League.

Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Lucknow Super Giants by 18 runs on Tuesday, climbing to second in the IPL table thanks to captain Faf du Plessis's 96. But it was another failure from the former India captain, who was out first ball to take his aggregate to 119 runs from seven matches.

"Virat Kohli is overcooked. If anyone needs a break, it's him," Shastri told Star Sports on Tuesday.

"Whether it's two months or a month and a half, whether it's after (the) England (tour in July) or before England – he needs a break because he has got six to seven years of cricket left in him and you don't want to lose that with a fried brain."

Kohli, 33, has stepped down as India captain in both white- and red-ball cricket and stood aside as skipper at Bangalore in the past seven months. He has failed to score a century in his last 100 matches in all formats.

Kohli had last year warned about players getting "cooked" mentally because of relentless cricket in bio-secure bubbles during the coronavirus pandemic.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen also backed calls for Kohli to take a break and reset his personal and professional life.

"The guy has had so much to deal with, from marriage to baby to media scrutiny and all on his personal life. He is the biggest star on show," Pietersen said.

"Virat Kohli needs to say: 'Cricket boots, for six months, I will see you later.' Turn off social media, go and get re-energised.

"When the stadiums are full again, you guarantee him a spot in that side for the next 12, 24 or 36 months. Tell him: 'You're our guy. We know you'll deliver for us'."

Kohli has played 101 Tests, 260 one-day internationals and 97 Twenty20 matches for India since 2008, during which time he has amassed 23,650 runs across the three formats including 70 centuries.

He is still searching for a first IPL title with Bangalore, a team he captained from 2013 to 2021.