'Is it so hard to accept?' - Sheldon Jackson slams Waqar Younis for not appreciating Virat Kohli's fitness standards

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli is arguably one of the fittest athletes of the world. The batsman has set new standards of fitness for the cricketers with his transformation. Kohli has not only inspired the youngsters but also the players of the Indian cricket team have started taking their physical fitness into consideration seeing its effect on their captain.

However, Pakistan’s bowling coach Waqar Younis had said that the Pakistan cricket team would not copy Virat Kohli as players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are already super fit. Also, the team would set its own bar that would suit the players and help them in taking the team forward.

Pakistan is expected to face England for a three-match Test and T20 series in the month of August and September. Speaking to the media before the series, Waqar had said, “There is no doubt that there are too many cricketers who are fit. There are three formats when you play all three formats you have to maintain fitness standards. He (Virat) is one of the top athletes in the country. Our boys are not behind.”

“You take Babar Azam, he is very fit. He is also delivering goods. Shaheen Shah Afridi is super fit. We will set our own bar, we will not copy someone else. We will set the bar that suits Pakistan cricket and will take the team forward,” he had added.

Sheldon Jackson defends Virat Kohli

However, this statement by Pakistan’s bowling coach didn’t go well with the Indian cricketer Sheldon Jackson. He slammed Younis for not appreciating Virat for his hard work and dedication to reach where he is today.

Defending his former IPL captain, Sheldon wrote on Twitter that Pakistan should consider the bar to be set at pretty high standards if they achieve even 50 per cent of what Kohli has achieved in terms of fitness. Also, he took a jibe on Waqar for not accepting that Virat is one of the fittest athletes of the world.

Jackson tweeted, “Is it so hard to accept that Virat is among or if not the fittest cricketer at present, nothing wrong in accepting that. even if 50% of his fitness standards achieved to consider the bar to be set at pretty high standards”

Sheldon is an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman who plays for Saurashtra in domestic cricket. He has also represented Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League.