“Just leave him alone” - Cricket fraternity backs Virat Kohli to overcome lean run in Super 8 round of 2024 T20 World Cup
Team India's star batter Virat Kohli had a forgettable time in the group stage of the ICC Men's 2024 T20 World Cup. Even as the Men in Blue progressed to the Super 8 round without much trouble, Kohli failed to notch up a single score of note.
In India's first match against Ireland, the 35-year-old was dismissed for one off five balls, top-edging a delivery to deep third man off Mark Adair. Against Pakistan, he fell for four, slapping one from Naseem Shah straight to cover point. Kohli was then dismissed for a golden duck against United States, hanging his bat at a delivery outside off stump from Saurabh Netravalkar.
After three innings in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Kohli has a mere five runs to his name at an average of 1.66. While such numbers would worry any team, the former India captain has found plenty of backers, who are confident that Kohli can overcome his lean patch in the Super 8 round. Most have pointed out that a number of other big names also struggled in games played in New York.
Team India will kick off their Super 8 campaign in the 2024 T20 World Cup with match against Afghanistan at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday, June 20. Ahead of the game, here's a compilation of reactions from various members of the cricket fraternity, who have thrown their weight behind Kohli and expressed confidence that he will come good soon.
"Virat is in a really good space" - Matthew Hayden
Former Aussie opener Matthew Hayden pointed out that Kohli has had some very difficult conditions to deal with. He urged that the Indian batter be left alone, adding that the former India captain has the experience to overcome the situation he finds himself in.
"Virat is in a really good space, he's had extremely tough conditions and no one would have liked that in the competition. Everyone wants to see these great champions being able to play freely and that's going to be the case and experience counts," Hayden told Star Sports during a discussion on the Super 8 round.
"Just leave him alone. He will show you why the Indian selectors have had faith in him at that position. And he needs to continue also to have a great strike back because clearly we've seen the pattern emerge here in the World Cup is that, those six overs, man you have to be in front of the game here," Hayden added.
Kohli is the leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup. He has smashed 1,146 runs in 28 innings at an average of 67.41 and a strike rate of 130.52, with 14 half-centuries to his credit.
"He knows how to stand up in big matches" - Irfan Pathan
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan asserted that Kohli should do well in the Super 8 stage because he is someone who knows how to stand up on the big stage. He added that conditions in West Indies will be different from New York and the same will also aid Kohli's batting.
"He knows how to stand up in big matches, isn't it? That's what makes him really, really special. He's a special player and I'm sure he's going to put his hand up and say OK, I'm going to do this for Team India and when the time comes, especially the big matches, we always have seen from Virat Kohli that he performs," Pathan told Star Sports ahead of the India vs Afghanistan Super 8 match.
"Just wait and watch, the slog sweep will come out now. He will definitely use those shots because, look, those conditions in New York. But now things will be different and you'll see a real Virat Kohli coming to the fore," he added.
Kohli was the leading run-getter in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup held in Australia, scoring 296 runs in six innings at an average of 98.67 and a strike rate of 136.41.
"Sometimes you get good deliveries" - Sunil Gavaskar on Kohli's lean run
Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar reckons that there is nothing to worry about Kohli's form despite the fact that he didn't score too many runs in the group stage. The former India captain stated he hasn't had much luck with deliveries and pointed out that the right-hander has come good on the big stage in the past.
"When you get three low scores, it does not mean he is not batting well. Sometimes you get good deliveries. On any other day, the ball would have gone wide or over the slip for a boundary, today it didn't. So, there is nothing to worry about. We have to show faith in him...believe that he is going to come good, sooner rather than later," Gavaskar explained during a discussion on Star Sports.
"The biggest motivation for any player is to win matches, especially when you are playing for your country. He has done so well for India over the years and won so many games. I think he recognizes that. We are in the early phases of the tournament. There are Super 8s, semi-finals, and hopefully the final. All he needs to do is show patience and faith in himself, which I think he has plenty," he added.
Kohli was recalled to T20I team in January this year for the three-match home series against Afghanistan, keeping the T20 World Cup in mind.
"If Kohli gives himself some time, his form won't be a concern" - Aakash Chopra
Sharing his thoughts on Kohli's form in the 2024 T20 World Cup so far, former India Test opener Aakash Chopra opined that if the experienced batter gives himself some time, his woes would be sorted out.
"I believe Virat Kohli should return to form against Afghanistan, not because of the opponent, but because of the calibre of player he is and the form he exhibited coming into this World Cup," Chopra told Jio Cinema.
"Considering the venue, there is hope the ball will come onto the bat well, and the side boundaries aren't very large. I think he has been overly aggressive... If Kohli gives himself some time, his form won't be a concern," he added.
Kohli played two matches in the T20I series against Afghanistan in January this year and registered scores of 0 and 29.
"Do not write off Virat Kohli" - Wasim Jaffer
Another former India opener Wasim Jaffer is confident that Kohli will come up with the goods in the remaining T20 World Cup games. He opined that the New York pitches have played a part in the star batter not scoring many runs and backed Kohli to finish as the tournament's leading run-getter.
"Rohit and Virat have been playing on the tough New York pitch so they aren't quite among the top run-scorers. But do not write off Virat Kohli. As the tournament will get to its business end, he will show his true colors and he will show his greatness. I had picked Virat Kohli as the highest run-scorer and I will stick to him," Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.
Overall, Kohli is second on the list of leading run-getters in T20Is, with 4,042 runs in 112 innings at an average of 49.90 and a strike rate of 137.90. He has one hundred and 37 fifties to his name.