Former India player Robin Uthappa believes Virat Kohli should score big in the upcoming Super 8 match of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Australia as it will be crucial for Team India. He also expressed his desire to see Kohli score a half-century ahead of the knockout fixtures as well.
Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube channel, Uthappa said: “What can empower Team India to have the best team possible? I think one is to get a solid Virat Kohli innings from him, especially looking at the whole tournament’s perspective. I want a 65-70 not out. Even if you get 120-125 strike rate, I don’t really care. I want that one solid innings from Virat Kohli. Because once he gets that little bit of that taste of blood, That human being can do anything. And for me, before we hit the semifinals, I want him to have that one innings at 150, I want him to get.”
However, Virat Kohli has struggled to get going in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, registering scores of 1,4 and 0 as well. He scored a run-a-ball 24 in India’s first match of the Super 8 round against Afghanistan whereas scored 37 runs off 28 balls against Bangladesh on Saturday, June 22. Meanwhile, Team India captain Rohit Sharma has backed himself to up the ante in the powerplay overs as well.
He said, “Rohit is very clear with the way he approaches his batting. I think he should continue to play the way he feels and believes that is the best way he will serve the team.”
Robin Uthappa applauded Team India’s vice-captain Hardik Pandya for his impactful performances at the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup. He
shared how the all-rounder was targetted by many for his poor show as the Mumbai Indians skipper in IPL 2024 as well.
“I love that Hardik is batting so well and bowling so well. And just his demeanour, he has been through a lot. If you look at what he has been through the last few months, the last six months, professional life, personal life, the scrutiny, everything he has gone through, to stack up performances that he is stacking up right now, takes a man of deep character. And that needs to be celebrated. I think Jaddu, especially as a bowler, needs to turn up a little bit more. I think he’s a rhythm guy and I don’t think he’s able to bowl often enough.”I think that rhythm, when it’s not there, he also backs himself a little bit lesser. So, I would like for him to bowl a lot more before the semifinals happen against a good side and this seems like the perfect team to be able to do that,” Robin Uthappa concluded.
