"Rohit Sharma scored runs in one match but it seems like that was last year" - Aakash Chopra on Rohit and Kohli's lean run ahead of IND vs BAN clash
Aakash Chopra has noted that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli need to fire with the bat in India's 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against Bangladesh. The two Asian teams will face off in North Sound, Antigua, on Saturday, June 22.
Rohit has aggregated 76 runs, including an unbeaten 52 in the Men in Blue's tournament opener against Ireland, at an average of 25.33 in four innings. Kohli, meanwhile, has managed a paltry 29 runs at a dismal average of 7.25 in his four hits.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra pointed out that Rohit and Kohli must return to run-scoring ways, highlighting the Indian captain's struggles against left-arm pace since his half-century against Ireland.
"The openers need to score runs because they haven't scored runs thus far. Rohit Sharma scored runs in one match but it seems like that was last year. It was a match against Ireland in New York. After that, left-arm pacers have troubled him, whether it's Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saurabh Netravalkar or Fazalhaq Farooqi, to whom he got out in the last match," he said (2:25).
The former India opener noted that Rohit, who will potentially be confronted with Mustafizur Rahman in the Bangladesh game, needs to be back among the runs before the knockout matches.
"Mustafizur Rahman will come here. So he will have to play slightly cautiously. The captain has to score runs because when you reach the semi-final and final, and especially when you play on the dustbowl-like pitch in Guyana, you won't be able to score runs with confidence if you are not in form. Then you will get caught out," Chopra elaborated.
Chopra observed that England might be India's semi-final opponents and that they will exploit Rohit's weakness. He added that England might even use Sam Curran with the new ball against the Indian skipper.
"He is a much better player than that" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli's underwhelming numbers
![Virat Kohli scored a run-a-ball 24 in India's last game against Afghanistan. [P/C: BCCI/X]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/06/419c7-17190268123819-1920.jpg?w=500)
Aakash Chopra noted that Virat Kohli too hasn't lived up to his standards in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"Virat Kohli is there with him (Rohit). He has scored 29 runs in total in this entire tournament. He is a much better player than that, there is no doubt about that. It seemed like he wasn't in rhythm at the start in the last match, and when he seemed to be regaining rhythm in an over, he got out," he said in the same video (3:10).
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that India's decision to open with their two most experienced players hasn't so far yielded them rich dividends.
"In my opinion, Virat Kohli needs to score runs because whatever applies to Rohit Sharma, exactly applies to Virat Kohli as well. You have started going with a new opening pair with the hope that they are the two most experienced Indian players but nothing has happened in that partnership thus far," Chopra observed.
However, Chopra doesn't see India changing their opening combination. He expects Rohit and Kohli to continue opening, with the in-form Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav following them in the batting order.