"Kohli's Virat form was finally seen" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's knock in IND vs BAN 2024 T20 World Cup clash
Aakash Chopra has noted that Virat Kohli was close to his former best in India's 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 win against Bangladesh. The former India captain scored an aggressive 28-ball 37 with the help of a solitary four and three sixes.
The Men in Blue set the Bangla Tigers a 197-run target after being asked to bat first in Antigua on Saturday, June 22. They then restricted Najmul Hossain Shanto and company to 146/8 to register a comprehensive 50-run win and virtually book their berth in the semi-finals.
Reflecting on the first half of India's innings in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra observed that Kohli played a fluent knock after Rohit Sharma had given the team a flying start.
"The batting was incredible. Rohit Sharma started first and that has become his template. He has decided that if the tournament's name is World Cup, whether it's T20 or ODI, he will start destructively and score runs as quickly as possible. Two shots and then the third shot went straight up in the air and he got out and went," he said (1:40).
"However, he went after setting the template - the captain leading by example. Virat Kohli was at the other end. He said whatever has happened is past, he hit three sixes in this match and only one four. He even hit a no-look shot. He was looking as good as gold. So Kohli's Virat form was finally seen," the former India opener added.
Rohit smashed three fours and a six in his 11-ball 23 and added 39 runs with Kohli for the opening wicket. The latter then took over the aggressor's role and dominated a 32-run second-wicket partnership with Rishabh Pant.
"India were seen slightly struggling" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav falling in the same over
![Virat Kohli was bowled by Tanzim Hasan Sakib. [P/C: BCCI/X]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/06/dcbd0-17191122409873-1920.jpg?w=500)
Aakash Chopra noted that Tanzim Hasan Sakib's dismissals of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav put India in a spot of bother.
"However, then he (Kohli) got out. If you talk about Tanzim, he is a very decent bowler. He bowled a sort of off-cutter and dismissed Virat Kohli. After that, Suryakumar Yadav hit a six off a bouncer off the first ball but then he too got out immediately due to extra bounce, and India were seen slightly struggling," he said (2:10).
The cricketer-turned-commentator praised Rishabh Pant for adopting a bold approach before virtually throwing away his wicket with an indiscreet shot.
"However, Rishabh Pant. He is khatron ka khiladi (plays with danger). It seems like he is playing the wrong game. His name should be in 'Khatron ke Khiladi', which comes on some channel, because no one does this job easily. Keep him away from evil eyes, he is batting so well. However, he was dismissed again while playing the reverse sweep. That's not a good thing," Chopra stated.
Pant scored 36 runs off 24 deliveries, a knock studded with four fours and two sixes. He reverse swept a Rishad Hossain delivery straight to Tanzim at short third man after having smashed the leg-spinner for a six and a four off the previous two balls.