Former Indian skipper, Virat Kohli has failed to do much with his bat in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, having scored only 5 runs in 3 matches. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Kohli will have no trouble in regaining his form in the upcoming Super 8 clash against Afghanistan, set for June 20 in Barbados.
Discussing Kohli’s performance so far, Aakash Chopra said, “I believe Virat Kohli should return to form against Afghanistan, not because of the opponent, but because of the calibre of player he is and the form he exhibited coming into this World Cup. Considering the venue, there is hope the ball will come onto the bat well, and the side boundaries aren’t very large.”
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“I think he has been overly aggressive. In India’s last match against Afghanistan in Bengaluru, he attempted a six on the first ball and got out. His dismissals during this World Cup suggest an overly positive approach that hasn’t worked for him. I hope he gives himself some time because Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq are in excellent form, plus they have a strong spin attack. If Kohli gives himself some time, his form won’t be a concern,” Aakash Chopra stated while hosting ‘#AAKASHVANI’ on JioCinema.
Aakash Chopra also commented on the much-debated pitches in New York, where fans witnessed unexpectedly low-scoring affairs. He believes the West Indies pitches will pose a different challenge for batters, and high-scoring games will remain rare.
Regarding the impact of West Indies pitches on upcoming games, Aakash Chopra explained, “The pitch in New York was not suitable for T20 cricket, with batters struggling and bowlers dominating. In the West Indies, each venue offers a different challenge. The Tarouba pitch has minimal bounce, in Guyana, the ball turns a lot, and Barbados has a decent surface. Overall, the pitches are tough for batters, and high-scoring games will be rare.”
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Talking about the strategy for India’s match against Afghanistan, Aakash Chopra added, “Winning the toss and opting to bat first could be advantageous, as historically, it has been a successful strategy on this ground. Afghanistan tends to struggle while chasing targets but excels at defending them, thanks to their exceptional spin bowlers. However, Rashid Khan did not have a stellar TATA IPL season, and their other bowlers also underperformed. Therefore, I’m confident that India will play well and secure a good result.”
Chopra’s insights highlight the complexities of the game and the conditions that could influence the performance of key players like Kohli in the crucial stages of the tournament.
