Virat Kohli. (Source – Getty Images)
India’s star batter Virat Kohli has been struggling with the form big time in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, having amassed merely 5 runs in 3 outings. Talking on the same, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Kohli should return to form in Super 8 clash against Afghanistan. The India vs Afghanistan clash is all set for June 20 in Barbados.
On Virat Kohli’s performance till now- “I believe Virat Kohli should return to form against Afghanistan, not because of the opponent, but because of the calibre of player he is and the form he exhibited coming into this World Cup. Considering the venue, there is hope the ball will come onto the bat well, and the side boundaries aren’t very large. I think he has been overly aggressive. In India’s last match against Afghanistan in Bengaluru, he attempted a six on the first ball and got out. His dismissals during this World Cup suggest an overly positive approach that hasn’t worked for him. I hope he gives himself some time because Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq are in excellent form, plus they have a strong spin attack. If Kohli gives himself some time, his form won’t be a concern,” said Chopra while hosting ‘#AAKASHVANI’ on JioCinema.
Chopra also threw light on much-debated pitches in New York where fans witnessed unexpectedly low-scoring affairs. The commentator feels that West Indies pitches will pose a different challenge for batters and high-scoring games will again remain a rarity.
On how the pitches in West Indies will impact the upcoming games- “The pitch in New York was not suitable for T20 cricket, with batters struggling and bowlers dominating. In the West Indies, each venue offers a different challenge. The Tarouba pitch has minimal bounce, in Guyana, the ball turns a lot, Barbados has a decent surface. Overall, the pitches are tough for batters, and high-scoring games will be rare.”
On the toss for India vs Afghanistan- “Winning the toss and opting to bat first could be advantageous, as historically, it has been a successful strategy on this ground. Afghanistan tends to struggle while chasing targets but excels at defending them, thanks to their exceptional spin bowlers. However, Rashid Khan did not have a stellar TATA IPL season, and their other bowlers also underperformed. Therefore, I’m confident that India will play well and secure a good result.”