"Divided by borders, united by cricket" - Twiteratti reacts as Babar Azam shows support for struggling Virat Kohli
Pakistan Cricket Team captain Babar Azam has thrown his support behind star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, who has struggled for runs in recent times.
The talismanic run-scorer has gone without scoring a century in 78 innings across formats. His last hundred came against Bangladesh in the pink-ball Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November 2019.
Kohli has faced constant criticism for his extended lean patch of form. Many former cricketers feel the former captain should be benched from the shortest format of the game.
While the voice of his ouster from the Indian team continues to grow, Babar has rallied behind Kohli, urging the right-handed batter to stay strong.
Taking to Twitter, Babar wrote:
"This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli."
This too shall pass. Stay strong.
#ViratKohli https://t.co/ozr7BFFgXt
Babar's message was well-received by fans across borders. Fans showered praise on the Pakistan skipper for his generous gesture, keeping aside the political differences between the two countries.
Here are some of the reactions:
twitter.com/babarazam258/sโฆ
Class act Babar ๐ twitter.com/babarazam258/sโฆ
#ViratKohli #BabarAzam
Babar Azam latest instagram post shows that cricket is beyond boundaries. ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ต๐ฐ #ViratKohli #BabarAzam https://t.co/aqmoCUCpgF
Game Recognize Game ๐ค
#ViratKohli #BabarAzam twitter.com/babarazam258/sโฆ
Friendship knows no borders #ViratKohli #BabarAzam twitter.com/babarazam258/sโฆ
My man just keeps on offering reasons after reasons to love him. This tweet will bring millions on same page regardless of hate. Lots of love, Babarโค๏ธ
We literally want Kohli to make strong comeback. Time isn't with him but yes this too shall pass.
#BabarAzam
#ViratKohli twitter.com/babarazam258/sโฆ
to a A message from a ๐to a ๐
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#babarazam #ViratKohli #BabarAzam๐ต https://t.co/0H1o0pQURe
Divided by borders, united by cricket ๐โฅ๏ธ
#ViratKohli #babarazam #BabarAzam๐ต #ViratKohli๐ต https://t.co/UTuqLYkyuf
This too shall pass. Stay strong.
#ViratKohli ( Babar Azam)
Both legends in one frameโ๏ธ๐
#ViratKohli๐ต #BabarAzam https://t.co/ow6xiyj35i
Thank-you @babarazam258 โค
You Won Many Hearts ๐โค in India
#ViratKohli #BabarAzam https://t.co/c7D2EtEg4T
Two goats ๐๐๐๐
Two beautiful person ๐
#BabarAzam
#ViratKohli https://t.co/05sSnNCx3p
Great gesture. #ViratKohli #BabarAzam twitter.com/babarazam258/sโฆ
They both earn my respect
Love from India @iMRizwanPak @babarazam258
#BabarAzam #ViratKohli๐ต https://t.co/3OWP5lLYJw
We will never see them together again. 
#BabarAzam๐ต
Lucky are those, who witnessed these moments.๐ซ๐
A first meet up of two gentlemen as CAPs' and probably the last. ๐ฅบ๐ We will never see them together again. ๐ X ๐
#BabarAzam #ViratKohli https://t.co/TJyhteNVKc
๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ค๐๐ญ ๐ค
Babar Azam throws his support and advises Virat Kohli to stay strong following the latter's poor form with the bat ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ณ
#BabarAzam๐ต #ViratKohli #CricketTwitter #BabarAzam https://t.co/ftmRtFqi5H
"He doesn't need reassurance" - Rohit Sharma defends Virat Kohli
India captain Rohit Sharma has once again backed Virat Kohli, saying that the 33-year-old doesn't need any reassurance after a below-par return in the second ODI against England at Lord's on Thursday.
The Delhi-born cricketer scored 16 as India were bundled out for 146 in pursuit of a target of 246. Addressing reporters after the penultimate ODI, Rohit said:
"He [Kohli] has played so many matches. He is playing from so many years. He is such a great batsman, so he does not need reassurance."
He added:
"I pointed this in my last press conference, too: form goes up and down, that is part and parcel of any cricketer's career. So, a player like him, who has played for so many years, who has made so many runs, who has won so many matches, for him, he only needs one or two good innings (to bounce back).
"That is my thinking and I am sure all those who follow cricket will think similarly."
Virat Kohli will hope to bounce back when India and England lock horns with each other in the third and final ODI at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday.