India’s former batting coach, Sanjay Bangar said it’s good to see the Indian stalwart Virat Kohli playing with a relaxed body language, adding that his hunger and rhythm seem to have got back after the break he took in the lead-up to the Asia Cup. Bangar’s comments came after Virat played a match-winning knock of 63 against Australia in a series-deciding 3rd T20I in Hyderabad on Sunday, September 25.
Virat Kohli decided to step back and take a break from competitive action, missing the series against West Indies and Zimbabwe. Earlier in the series against Australia, Kohli managed just 2 and 11 in the first 2 T20Is against world champions Australia but he bounced back with a solid 48-ball 63, anchoring another successful chase for India. Kohli soaked in the pressure in the series decider after India lost openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma early as he stitched a match-winning 104-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav.
ALSO READ: Anureet Singh Decides To Retire From Indian Cricket
During a chat on Star Sports, Sanjay Bangar said, “He is a champion batter. He has done that for India for such a long period of time. He knows he is in that phase where he is enjoying his game big time. He knows that the rhythm is back, the hunger is back, you can see that with the body language that he is displaying along with his mates. That’s what you want to see in him, enjoying.”
He further added, “There was a phase where the pressure was getting to him. But after the break, the sense of enjoyment is back, the feeling of hitting a cricket ball is back in his game.”
Furthermore, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden said Virat Kohli should continue batting at No. 3 and he is the glue in the Indian batting line-up between an explosive opening pair and a powerful middle-order duo of Suryakumar and Hardik Pandya. Notably, skipper, Rohit did not rule out the option of Kohli opening the innings for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 after the star batter hit the hundred against Afghanistan at the top of the order in the Asia Cup.
ALSO READ: Salman Butt Deciphers Virat Kohli’s Knock In Hyderabad Against Australia
Matthew Hayden said, “We have been speaking a lot about this. For me, it’s almost a non-discussion. He bats at No. 3 for this reason. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have got a really good opening partnership. You consolidate at No. 3. The glue is what Australia have been missing in this series, that is Steve Smith. You can obviously see the way that Sky and him bat together as well. They enjoy batting together a lot.”
