Ace India batter Virat Kohli has been struggling to make a significant impact in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Opening the innings for India, Kohli has managed to score only one, four, and zero runs against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA, respectively. These lacklustre performances have sparked concerns among fans about his current form.
This is especially surprising given that Kohli entered the T20 World Cup on the back of a stellar IPL 2024 campaign for Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he amassed 741 runs in 15 innings, earning the IPL orange cap.
Despite the high expectations, Kohli has yet to replicate his IPL success in the T20 World Cup. Nevertheless, team India all-rounder Shivam Dube has come forward in support of Kohli. The 30-year-old Dube expressed confidence in Kohli’s abilities, emphasizing that a few poor outings do not define his overall potential.
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“There is nothing I can say about Virat Kohli because I’m not Virat Kohli. His bad patch means he got out cheaply a couple of times but will come back scoring hundreds in the next three matches. We all know his game and how he plays,” Shivam Dube stated, underscoring the belief that Kohli’s slump is temporary and that he will soon return to his prolific form.
Adding to this sentiment, former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu also weighed in on Kohli’s recent performances. Despite the dip in form, Rayudu advocated for maintaining the current batting order, suggesting that there is no need for Kohli to bat at number three. He stressed the importance of sticking to the existing strategies and trusting Kohli’s proven track record.
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“I don’t think there’s any need to change the combination right now. We saw a great cover drive, and even on the ball that he (Kohli) got dismissed (against Pakistan), he had played a fine shot and just couldn’t get the elevation to clear the fielder. The intent he showed was great and if both Virat and Rohit can bat with this intent, then the big days will come when either one of them or both will win India the game one-sided,” Ambati Rayudu commented.
As India progresses in the T20 World Cup, fans and teammates alike remain hopeful that Kohli will soon rediscover his form and contribute significantly to the team’s success. His past performances and sheer talent provide a strong basis for optimism, suggesting that a resurgence is just around the corner.
