Team India is currently in the Caribbean for the crucial Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue secured their spot by topping Group A after impressive victories over Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA. However, star batter Virat Kohli has had a disappointing tournament thus far, scoring only five runs across three innings. As India prepares to face Afghanistan on June 20 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, fans are hopeful that the modern-day great can rediscover his form on the more batting-friendly pitches.
In a lengthy training session one day before the Afghanistan clash, Kohli dedicated considerable time in the nets to find his rhythm. Reports from Bridgetown indicate that despite his efforts, the former skipper continued to struggle, particularly against reserve seamer Khaleel Ahmed.
“Kohli, looking to get back among the runs, had a long hit, most of which were throwdowns before he moved to the adjacent net to face Kuldeep and Khaleel Ahmed. Kohli middled most of the balls against Kuldeep but missed out on a few from Khaleel, leaving him frustrated,” a source was quoted as saying by News 18.
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There are also speculations that India may adjust their bowling attack by including premier wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for the Super Eights. Kuldeep was surprisingly left out of the playing XI during the group stage, with India opting for three specialist pacers complemented by finger spinners Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.
Virat Kohli, looking to get back among the runs, had a long hit, majority of them being throwdowns before he moved to the adjacent net to face Kuldeep and Khaleel Ahmed. Kohli middled most of the balls against Kuldeep but missed out on a few from Khaleel, leaving him frustrated.…
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) June 19, 2024
Virat Kohli Struggles Against Khaleel Ahmed in Nets; India Likely to Add Kuldeep Yadav to Playing XIhttps://t.co/Ly8WQpgrFK
— News18.com (@news18dotcom) June 19, 2024
However, with captain Rohit Sharma emphasizing the importance of four all-rounders for team balance, Kuldeep could get the nod if India decides to drop a third seamer. The left-arm wrist-spinner had an extended bowling session against Kohli and Rohit in the nets on Tuesday, closely observed by head coach Rahul Dravid.
Reports suggest that the Kensington Oval pitch is already showing signs of turn, which could influence India’s decision to include Kuldeep in the XI.
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“The pitch should turn in the middle as well, maybe not as much as it is in the nets, but it will turn. The spinners have proved quite useful throughout the Caribbean thus far. I don’t think India will make any changes; they would not want to compromise on their batting,” said a former international at the venue.
