Amidst scrutiny over Virat Kohli’s IPL 2024 run rate, cricket legend Brian Lara emphasizes the Indian skipper’s irreplaceable value to the team and his confidence in Kohli’s selection for India’s T20 World Cup squad. Kohli’s century in 67 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore sparked social media debates, with comparisons drawn to Manish Pandey’s century in 2009, also taking 67 balls. However, Lara defends Kohli, suggesting that strike rates vary by batting position, with openers like Kohli often starting slower and accelerating later in the innings.
“The strike-rate depends on position,” Brian Lara explained during the Star Sports Press Room session, joined by former India batsman Ambati Rayudu. “But if you ask me, India’s top three in the World Cup should be Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.”
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Brian Lara also stressed the importance of a collective team effort for RCB rather than reliance on individual performances. While Lara acknowledges the potential of pairing Kohli and Rohit as openers in the T20 World Cup, he advocates for the inclusion of a younger player alongside the experienced duo. “You should have some youthful punch in the opening,” he asserts, suggesting the use of one experienced player at the top and the other at No. 3 to balance the lineup effectively.
Regarding Yashasvi Jaiswal’s underwhelming IPL performance, Brian Lara attributes his struggles to preoccupation with T20 World Cup team selection. Despite Jaiswal’s remarkable Test series against England earlier in the year, Lara observes a lack of composure, noting his hurried shot selection. Lara advises young talents like Jaiswal to focus solely on their IPL performances, allowing World Cup selection to follow naturally.
“It is quite natural that young players like Jaiswal are a bit anxious,” Brian Lara empathizes, drawing from his own experiences. “My advice to them is to focus on the IPL, do your best to get runs, and the World Cup (selection) will take care of itself.”
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Lara’s insights shed light on the complex dynamics of player performance and selection, emphasizing the need for balance between individual performance and team objectives in both IPL and international cricket.
