[Watch] Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli polish their reverse-sweeps ahead of India's T20 World Cup Super 8 encounter against Afghanistan
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli sweated it out in the nets in Barbados on Tuesday ahead of the start of their Super 8 phase of the T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue will lock horns with Afghanistan in a high-octane encounter on Thursday, June 20.
The former champions are likely to face a tough test from the quality Afghanistan spinners and perhaps that's why both Rohit and Kohli were seen working on their sweeps and reverse-sweeps.
In a video posted by Star Sports, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were seen batting in adjoining nets and facing Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, trying to nail down a plan against the Afghanistan spinners. Along with the sweeps and reverse sweeps, Kohli was also seen unleashing the slog-sweep, a shot that he played a lot in the IPL 2024 to a great degree of success.
Here's the video:
The game against Afghanistan would be India's first of the tournament in the West Indies and a change in conditions could see a change in the complexion of their side as well. Both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal could be in with a shout as the Men in Blue would be tempted to play with three spinners.
Cricket expert backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's opening combination
In the three innings that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have opened for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup, they have only mustered partnerships of 22,12, & 1. However, several cricket experts have backed the duo to come good in the business end of the tournament and former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer is one of them.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Jaffer recently explained how the conditions in New York were a major factor in not seeing the best of Rohit and Kohli. He still backs Kohli to be the tournament's highest 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," said Jaffer.
India have to face Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia in their Super 8 group. The teams that finish in the top two spots will qualify for the semifinals.