Former India player Suresh Raina feels Virat Kohli doesn’t need to change his batting approach when he returns to India’s T20I side. The Indian team defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the first T20I of a three-match series in Mohali on Thursday. However, Kohli missed the game due to personal reasons and he is expected to be a part of the playing XI in the second match in Indore on Sunday as well.
During a discussion on JioCinema, Raina said: “He always has an attacking mindset, the way he controls the innings. 20 overs is a big format. People feel it is a very short format but you still need to play 20 overs. We will be playing the World Cup in the Caribbean and America, the wickets will be slightly challenging. They will be slightly spin-friendly and slow.”
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While praising Virat Kohli’s prowess in run chases, Suresh Raina added that the former skipper’s mere presence at the crease will help India post a mammoth total. Virat Kohli has amassed 4008 runs in 115 T20Is at an average of 52.73 and an equally impressive strike rate of 137.96. He has scored 1983 runs at an outstanding average of 73.44 and a strike rate of 136.47 in 45 innings in T20I run chases as well.
He stated: “India have won 17 of their last 19 matches while chasing when Kohli was there. When you chase, you do the calculations in your mind, and that’s why he is called a chase master. He will show intent but if Virat Kohli even stands there for 20 overs, 225-230 will be scored.”
Pragyan Ojha also shared his views about Virat Kohli’s importance to India in the shortest format. He also added that Kohli and Rohit Sharma lend much-needed experience to the side as well.
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“He is extremely important. The names you are taking, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they are the backbone. We saw how Virat Kohli won us the match in Australia at the MCG. When you need that experience, we see what these players can do,” he expressed. “They give cushion to the youngsters. Players with less experience start stumbling in such situations. So you need such players to create the balance. So Kohli probably creates that cushion. I feel these two players are there for matches where the team needs a lot of experience.”
