I'm not happy, would love it if Virat Kohli gets going and scores more runs: India batting coach Vikram Rathour
Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has admitted that he's not happy with the fact that Virat Kohli has not scored too many runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup. At the same time, he asserted that it's good for the players to be challenged at times.
The Men in Blue are unbeaten in the 2024 T20 World Cup. After winning three consecutive matches in the group stage, they beat Afghanistan by 47 runs in their first Super 8 match in Barbados. While India have had a fantastic campaign, Kohli has struggled big time, managing only 29 runs at an average of 7.25.
India's second Super 8 clash will be against Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, on Saturday, June 22. At the pre-match press conference, Rathour shared his views on Kohli's struggles with the bat in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"I'm not happy. I would love it if he gets going and scores more runs. But yeah, it is good when you are challenged at times.
"You know, the guys who are not getting too much of batting in India sometimes, they are the ones who put up scores today and our middle-order came to play. So, it was good to see," the former India opener was quoted as saying by PTI.
Interestingly, while India played three pacers and two spinners in group stage, they went in with three slow bowlers in the Super 8 match against Afghanistan. Rathour admitted that the versatility in the 15-member squad is one of their strengths.
"We've always had depth as a team, I believe. But yeah, these conditions maybe suit us more because we can afford to play two or three spinners at times. So that I believe can be our best team. That is our strength," the 55-year-old said.
"It feels like ... somebody like Axar (Patel) playing at eight gives you a lot of confidence because he can bat and he's bowling really well at the moment. So, it does give you a lot of options," he added.
Axar has been a key member of the Indian squad in the T20 World Cup, chipping in with crucial runs as well as wickets.
"We already played in the worst possible conditions in New York" - Rathour
India played their first three matches in the group stage in New York in extremely challenging batting conditions. Rathour expects the pitches to be comparatively easier to bat on in the West Indies.
"We already played in the worst possible conditions in New York. So, anything after that is feeling good only. So, I am expecting wickets to be better (here)," the 55-year-old asserted.
India's opponents on Saturday, Bangladesh, went down to Australia by 28 runs (DLS method) in their opening Super 8 match in Antigua. The batting coach, though, said that the Men in Blue won't take it easy against Bangladesh, knowing how dangerous they can be.
"They're a good unit. They have a lot of guys who can spin the ball and they are good in certain conditions. And these conditions do suit them a little as a team I think because the wickets seem to have a bit of help for the spinners and they do have spinners in their team," Rathour said.
"But again, in this format I think every team is a tough team. I don't believe any contest in T20 cricket is an easy contest," he added.
India have a 12-1 lead over Bangladesh in the T20I format, but many of these games have been closely contested. Significantly, the Men in Blue have never lost to Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup.