Veteran Sanjay Bangar said that Virat Kohli’s poor form in India’s first three games in the 2024 T20 World Cup is not a cause for concern. He also added that it could just be a lull before the storm. Kohli scored only five runs in India’s first three Group A games, with their fourth match against Canada in Florida on Saturday, June 15, being abandoned without a ball being bowled as well. Despite his poor form, India have qualified for the Super Eights.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Bangar said, “He has never opened for India in a T20 World Cup. It’s clear that it’s a slightly new position and considering the conditions that were there, your first mistake was your last mistake. The batters don’t get a second chance here and it has been a challenge for the top-order batters. When it’s a match between two evenly matched teams, the opening batters have struggled a little for sure. I don’t think there is any cause for worry. It could be a lull before the storm.”
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However, Virat Kohli scored one and four in India’s first two games against Ireland and Pakistan respectively as well. He was caught behind for a golden duck off Saurabh Netravalkar’s bowling against the USA. And, Sanjay Bangar backed Kohli as an opener. However, the former India all-rounder also expects India to play Kuldeep Yadav in place of either Arshdeep Singh or Mohammed Siraj in the Super 8 games in the West Indies as well.
“I don’t think they should do that at this stage when they have taken a decision. I feel they might have taken the decision slightly late that they would use Virat Kohli as an opener. Now that they have decided, they won’t go back and move away from that. They have already said that they want Rishabh Pant to play at No. 3. I definitely see one change when the matches will be played in the West Indies. Kuldeep Yadav’s return is mandatory. He has to come back for someone or the other. He might come in place of a fast bowler because Hardik Pandya is bowling well. Then one of Arshdeep and Mohammed Siraj will have to miss out and you will see the Indian team going with three spinners,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.
