Kohli has been struggling for form over recent months, and his first-ball dismissal against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday took his Indian Premier League return for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022 to 119 runs for seven times out
Ravi Shastri has urged Virat Kohli to take a break from cricket or risk "a fried brain".
Kohli has been struggling for form over recent months, and his first-ball dismissal against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday took his Indian Premier League return for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022 to 119 runs for seven times out - a meagre contribution from one of the best batsmen of all time.
Shastri, who was Kohli's head coach with India, is concerned that the superstar is showing signs of burnout.
"Virat Kohli is overcooked. If anyone needs a break, it's him," he told Star Sports.
Virat Kohli has gone through a lean IPL [screengrab/BCCI]
"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."
Shastri is not the only prominent ex-pro to warn Kohli, and Indian cricket, about pushing the former national skipper to the brink.
Kevin Pietersen, the former England international, said: "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.
"Virat Kohli needs to say: 'Cricket boots, for six months, I will see you later.' Turn off social media, go and get re-energised."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.