"Kohli's World Cup hasn't been good at all" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's duck in IND vs AUS 2024 T20 World Cup clash
Aakash Chopra has noted that Virat Kohli has had a lean 2024 T20 World Cup campaign thus far. The former India captain has aggregated just 66 runs in six innings and has reached double digits only twice.
Kohli was dismissed for a five-ball duck as India set Australia a 206-run target in their final Group 1 Super 8 game in Saint Lucia on Monday, June 24. The Men in Blue then restricted the Aussies to 181/7 to register a 24-run win and seal a semi-final clash against England in Guyana on June 27.
Reflecting on India's batting in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra noted that Kohli endured another failure after a decent knock in the previous match against Bangladesh.
"India lost the toss but Australia did what Bangladesh had done. They opted to bowl and I was clapping. Kohli did get out at the start for sure. Kohli's World Cup hasn't been good at all. A little form was seen for sure in the last match but he got out for zero this time. Our hearts started beating a little fast because he is an incredible player but he got out," he said (1:30).
While praising Rohit Sharma for his blazing innings, the former India opener also appreciated Suryakumar Yadav for playing a crucial knock.
"Then Rishabh Pant got out and Suryakumar Yadav came to bat. Surya and Rohit Sharma were together and they played well. Suryakumar's knock won't be spoken about a lot although he scored 31 runs off just 16 balls, which included two sixes and three fours. So it was an important knock," Chopra observed (2:55).
Rohit (92 off 41) and Rishabh Pant (15 off 14) stitched together an 87-run second-wicket partnership after Kohli's dismissal. Suryakumar (31 off 16) then added 34 runs for the third wicket with the Indian skipper and a further 32 runs with Shivam Dube for the fourth wicket.
"You expect better than that from him" - Aakash Chopra on Shivam Dube's knock
Aakash Chopra reckons Shivam Dube didn't live up to expectations.
"Shivam Dube played slightly slow, let's be fair. 28 runs off 22 balls - you expect better than that from him. Dube ji - fasten the seat belt slightly and pull up your socks a little because there are more expectations from you and if you don't live up to them, the heart will ache a little," he said in the same video (3:10)
On the flip side, the reputed commentator praised Hardik Pandya for striking a few lusty blows and taking India beyond 200.
"Hardik Pandya came as a solace for us. He scored 27 runs off 17 balls and hit two sixes. Importantly, let's not forget that Australia dropped an odd catch as well. Mitchell Marsh dropped a catch and (Marcus) Stoinis came to bowl in the end. 56 runs were scored in his four overs. Off-spinner Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) wasn't bowled a single over and overall India reached 205," Chopra stated.
Hardik struck two sixes and a four in his 17-ball unbeaten 27. Ravindra Jadeja, who was sent ahead of Axar Patel, contributed an unbeaten nine off five balls, including a six.