(AFP Photo)
England all-rounder Will Jacks mentioned that he received on-field coaching from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batsman Virat Kohli during the IPL 2024 season. Jacks expressed his eagerness to use this knowledge to aid England in defending their title in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
Will Jacks participated in eight matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recently concluded IPL tournament. He accumulated 230 runs with an average of 32.86 and an impressive strike rate of 175.7, including a 41-ball century against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The 25-year-old left the tournament early to join the England squad for a four-match T20I series against Pakistan. The first T20I was abandoned due to rain. In the second match, Jacks scored a quickfire 37 runs off 23 balls, helping the Jos Buttler-led team to a 23-run victory in Birmingham on May 25.
Every Game Is Such An Occasion – Will Jacks
Ahead of the third T20I against Pakistan, Will Jacks compared playing in the IPL to international cricket. He remarked that in the IPL, players are required to elevate their performance in every match.
“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 emphasized the valuable experience of batting alongside Virat Kohli, noting that the former RCB captain guided him through the innings. Jacks mentioned that he learned important lessons about pacing an innings while chasing a 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 encounter between England and Pakistan is set to happen at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Tuesday, May 28. Captain Jos Buttler will be absent from the upcoming match as he celebrates the birth of his third child. Moeen Ali will take charge of the team, with Ben Duckett likely to step in as the opener in Buttler’s absence.
