“Virat Kohli was coaching me”- Will Jacks

England all-rounder Will Jacks stated that he received on-field coaching from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli during the IPL 2024 season. Will Jacks said that he is keen to apply this knowledge to help England defend their title in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

Will Jacks played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in eight matches in the recently concluded tournament. He scored 230 runs at an average of 32.86 and an impressive strike rate of 175.7. He scored a 41-ball hundred against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in a league match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The 25-year-old departed the tournament early to join England for the four-match T20I series against Pakistan. The first T20I against Pakistan was washed out by rain. Jacks scored a quickfire 37 runs off 23 balls as the Jos Buttler-led team secured a 23-run victory in the second match in Birmingham on May 25.

Every Game Is Such An Occasion – Will Jacks

Speaking ahead of the third T20I against Pakistan, Will Jacks drew parallels between playing IPL matches and international cricket. Jacks stated that players have to step up every game in the IPL.

“The big thing with the IPL is that every game is such an occasion, the crowd, the atmosphere. Every game you feel like you’ve got to step up, and that’s similar to international cricket,” Jacks shared with reporters.

Virat Kohli Is A Very Good Role Model – Will Jacks

Will Jacks described Virat Kohli as a ‘very good role model,’ highlighting his intense dedication to training and every aspect of the game. Jacks mentioned that Kohli’s commitment is inspiring, especially for young players who may sometimes shy away from the hard work.

“He’s a very good role model. The way he approaches all the training and every aspect of the game off the field, his intensity, everything he does is 100 percent attention. He’s done it for such a long time, and I can appreciate that as a young guy who often doesn’t want to do the hard yards, but you see him doing it and want to copy that,” Jacks added.

Virat Kohli Was Coaching Me – Will Jacks

The England all-rounder highlighted the valuable learning experience of batting alongside Virat Kohli, stating that the former RCB skipper coached him through the innings. Jacks stated that he learned some valuable things about pacing the innings while chasing the target.

“When we were batting together, he was coaching me through there. I learned some valuable things about chasing in that innings and pacing the game, which was really helpful. I was really proud of the way I stayed in the partnership and didn’t throw it away,” Jacks said.

The third T20I match between England and Pakistan is scheduled to take place at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Tuesday, May 28. Skipper Jos Buttler will miss the upcoming match due to the birth of his third child. Moeen Ali will lead the team, and Ben Duckett is expected to open the innings in Buttler’s absence.

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