'Players who look at averages are average players': Mohammad Rizwan cites Virat Kohli's example to prove he is a team man

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been criticised for his strike rate of late. There were questions raised when former skipper Babar Azam was demoted to no.3 and Rizwan opened the innings with Saim Ayub. Rizwan pointed out that he has always been a team man and tried to play according to the role and situation. In an attempt to explain himself, he cited Virat Kohli’s example saying that his average is getting higher because he is not focusing on it. 
 

“Firstly the teams that you are representing keep that [role] in front and if you think of yourself in that case... like players who think like let me save myself, he won't go far. Those players who look at averages are average players. If someone is performing it will be there in the stats for people to see, like say India's Virat Kohli, he is getting his average higher but he is not focusing on that because average players looks at average and big players will look at the team and the situation and my focus remains on what is the requirement of the team,” Rizwan told the Cricbuzz on the sidelines of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 
 

“The team says Rizwan look at board and play accordingly. I maintain the same thing in my own life too but it is not easy. In T20 playing the new ball and in ODI go after 25 overs when the ball is a bit old that is not easy and it is a mind game,” he added. 

Rizwan struggling to score in Bangladesh
 

Rizwan is currently representing Comilla Victorians in BPL 2023. He has been struggling for form on Bangladesh pitches. He has registered scores of 17, 14, 17, 16* and 21 so far. His strike rate has been below par as well. In the previous game against Khulna Tigers, he scored 21 runs from 28 deliveries. On the other end, Litton Das scored 45 runs from 30 balls. Earlier, in the T20I series against New Zealand, he struggled to score quickly. His best came in the fourth T20I when he scored 90 not out from 63 balls.
 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK: 

Not given a chance in first two Tests, Harry Brook's replacement leaves India series midway to rejoin ILT20 side

India to take on Australia in Under-19 World Cup final for the third time: Here’s all you need to know