Former India player Piyush Chawla brushed aside star India batter Virat Kohli’s struggles against left-arm spinners ahead of India’s final Super Four clash against Bangladesh as well. Kohli got out of Dunith Wellalage’s delivery when he played early to a delivery that stuck on the pitch to give an easy catch to mid-wicket as well. Despite being dismissed by left-arm spinners 22 times in his ODI career, the veteran averages almost 63 against them at a strike rate of 90 as well.
Speaking to Star Sports, Piyush Chawla said, “See, that depends on the day; if he really had a problem against left-arm spinners, and you’ve played so many matches, you will get out against someone or the other. If every team thought this way, they would include a left-arm spinner in their team always. But even in the shot he got out to recently (against Sri Lanka), it’s one of his scoring shots; the ball came on late from the pitch and he got out. Generally, that goes between square leg and mid-wicket, and he scores a lot of runs like that. And if we talk about him having a problem against a left-arm spinner, then I don’t think he would have scored 47 centuries in One Day cricket.”
Piyush Chawla also applauded captain Rohit Sharma for stepping up at the perfect time with the World Cup around the corner as well. However, Rohit has scored three consecutive half-centuries, including top-scoring in India’s 41-run win against Sri Lanka as well.
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“This is the identity of a big player, just as we approach a big tournament, he comes back into form some way or the other, and he has shown this at the Asia Cup. This is the Rohit Sharma we all know. He is not trying to hit the ball hard; it’s just lazy elegance. He is focusing on timing the ball, and from the outside, it looks so fun to watch because he makes batting look pretty easy,” Chawla continued. “And these are good signs for Indian cricket because when your openers are giving you a good start, you get a bigger score, and it helps the middle order. And it is very important that when your middle order is good, then if your openers give you a good start, it becomes very good for the team.”
However, Rohit Sharma was the highest run-scorer in the 2019 World Cup with 648 runs, including a record five centuries. With the win against Sri Lanka, Team India reached the final on Sunday, September 17. Meanwhile, Piyush Chawla also praised Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan for his astute thinking and the ability to bowl in the right areas.
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“If we talk about Shakib, he is a very experienced player, and I’ve played against him as well. The way his brain works is very good; he is not a big turner of the ball, but he knows how to bowl in the right areas. So if the Indian team has to play him, we have capable players as well; they will know how to manage against him. I wouldn’t call him a threat; I don’t think that any player is a threat. If you bat well, and India has such a long batting lineup, and a lot of set players, so there shouldn’t be a problem facing him,” concluded Piyush Chawla.
