[Watch] "You are not happy that he’s opening now?"- Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour's cheeky response to query on Virat Kohli moving to No.3
Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour cheekily responded to a question on Virat Kohli moving down to No.3 during the press conference ahead of their 2024 T20 World Cup Super Eight clash against Bangladesh. The Men in Blue will play the Bangla Tigers in Antigua on June 22.
Kohli has struggled thus far in the tournament opening the batting, averaging a dismal 7.25 at a strike rate of under 88 in four games. The dip in form is surprising considering the ace batter's incredible showing as an opener in the 2024 IPL season just before the World Cup.
Kohli led the run-scoring charts with 741 runs at an average of almost 62 and a strike rate of 154.70 in 15 outings.
Here is the video of Rathour's sarcastic response to the reporter's question about Kohli continuing to open the batting.
"We are not thinking on those lines (dropping Kohli down to No.3). We are happy with the batting order that we have. If any change happens, that will be to do with the opposition and the conditions that we come across," said Rathour.
Virat Kohli has batted at one drop in 80 of his 113 T20I innings and boasts an impressive average of 53.96 and a strike rate of 135.26.
Yet, his record as an opener in T20Is remains impeccable even with this dry spell considered at an average of 39 and a strike rate of almost 153.
"I'm not happy. I would love it if he gets going and scores more runs" - Vikram Rathour
Vikram Rathour admitted not being happy with Virat Kohli's struggles but felt it was good for players to be challenged occasionally. He further pointed to how it has enabled other batters in the middle order to get invaluable game time and score runs.
During the pre-match press conference on the eve of the India-Bangladesh clash, Rathour said as quoted by the PTI:
"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."
Meanwhile, Team India have been unflustered despite Kohli's poor form, winning all four games thus far in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
They defeated Afghanistan convincingly in their Super Eight opener by 47 runs and will look to all but seal a semi-final spot with a win over Bangladesh.