Virat Kohli hasn't been in the best of form in the T20 World Cup as the star batter has decided to take up a more aggressive and selfless approach. Is the final clash against South Africa, the best time for the star batter to go back to his old self?
Kohli may need to go back to his old self in the final (Courtesy: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 29, 2024 13:27 IST
To say Virat Kohli hasn't had the best of outings in the T20 World Cup 2024 would be an understatement. 75 runs in 7 matches at an average of 10.71 doesn't paint a good picture for the Indian star batter, who was the highest run-getter in the 2022 edition. The reason for the so-called dip in form has been how Kohli has looked to be self-less with his batting.
Kohli has been looking to go hard at the ball from the get-go, something he hasn't been known for in his career. Kohli has a modest strike-rate of 137.20, but he is the third-highest run-getter in the format of the game. It shows that Kohli has been someone who paces his innings well and then goes in for the kill at the right moment. Ravi Shastri, the former India coach, said Kohli's game isn't the one where he tries to chase the ball and tries to manufacture runs.
Nasser Hussain also echoed a similar sentiment ahead of the final and said Kohli should be batting like he has done in the past decade and be the one around which the whole Indian innings is constructed.
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"I personally and others will disagree because you want to set the tone throughout the team. I personally think Virat Kohli should bat like he's batted over the last decade. He's got a strike rate of 138. He can be the glue, you know, they all bat around, and they all come in playing their shots," said Hussain.
So is it the time for Kohli to abandon this selfless, aggressive approach and get back to being himself, the run machine that Indian cricket fans have gotten accustomed to in the past. Let's take a look at why he should do it.
Enough firepower in the side
When you look at the Indian batting lineup, it is actually a perfect one for Kohli to be himself. You have a marauding Rohit Sharma at the top, who has just been aggressive and setting the pace for the team. After Kohli, you have a Rishabh Pant, who will always have you at the edge of your seats with his innovation. Suryakumar Yadav can accelerate and be the aggressor when he wants to be and Shivam Dube can do the same.
Hardik Pandya has shown he can be the finisher for India and add to this Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, you have a big batting lineup that allows Kohli to be himself. The pressure can be taken off the star batter by the rest.
Battles against the South Africa bowlers
The South Africa bowlers have been the main reason why they have made it to the final. Hunting as a pack, the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen have led the pace battery well. Add to this Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, then you have a formidable bowling lineup.
Most of the aforementioned names, can trouble Kohli. His battles with Rabada are well-documented, with Jansen also sharing some history with the Indian star. Shamsi has seen Kohli close in the nets during his RCB days and left-arm orthodox, which Maharaj bowls, has been a kryptonite for Kohli.
So, it would be best that Kohli takes his time on the Barbados pitch, where there is enough juice to give you runs once you settle in.
Big game needs a Kohli-esque innings
It doesn't get any bigger than being in a final. Kohli knows this very well because had he stayed in the ODI World Cup final, things could have been different. Here, in the T20 World Cup final, all he needs to do is ensure he is there till the end.
If you remember the game against the same opponents in the ODI World Cup in Kolkata, Kohli got to his record-equalling 49th ODI hundred and played an innings of 101 off 121 balls. Even then, India went on to post 326 runs and the bowlers did the rest for his side.
As Sunil Gavaskar said, Kohli needs to 'chill a bit' and ensure he plays the big hand.
"All that he needs to do is chill a bit and play that big hand and will give India the big score," said Gavaskar.
Whatever Kohli chooses to do in the final, ultimately would be done with the team in mind. Probably for the betterment of the team, it's time we get the vintage version of the star batter, who is known to accumulate his runs with smart batting rather than slogging.
Published On:
Jun 29, 2024
English (US) ·