Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden spoke about Virat Kohli’s form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. He said that the Indian batsman in Caribbean conditions is a world-class batsman and will be able to sort things out in the Super 8 stage. of the tournament.
India batsman Virat Kohli has not looked at his best so far in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The move to promote him up the order has not worked at all, as he failed horribly in the league stage of the tournament and failed to do so. go into double figures even once.
Virat Kohli, who scored 741 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, was expected to play an important role for the team in the T20 World Cup 2024. But it didn’t work out at all. He started the tournament with a 1-run knock against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
In the second game against Pakistan, Virat Kohli played a magnificent cover, but immediately after that he passed away, scoring only 4 runs. In the next match against the United States of America, he got a golden duck and finished the league stage with only 5 runs to his name.
Matthew Hayden touted Virat Kohli as a world-class batsman and stated that on surfaces, where par scores are 160-170, Kohli’s experience will be vital. He noted that the team will not be able to get the best out of him at the number three spot and therefore he should open. Speaking on Star Sports Press Room, he explained:
“Kohli, in any condition, is a world-class batsman. These [Caribbean] These are places where you have to build entries and think about the kind of realistic totals that are possible in these different places. Off St. Lucia, par scores are in the 160-170 range and Virat, with all his experience, will be able to decide what to do, such as hitting spin to the windward side, depending on how significant it is.
“Look, the conditions in America were extremely tough, no one likes that. Everyone wants to see these great champions playing freely. But it won’t necessarily be like that. That’s why experience counts. I said it during the IPL too. Yes “Kohli was going to be in the team, he needs to open Virat at three, I don’t think we get the best out of him. You can’t just turn up and shoot 250 on these wickets, it takes thinking cricketers.”
He will show you why the Indian selectors have had faith in him in that position – Matthew Hayden on Virat Kohli
Matthew Hayden, talking about Virat Kohli, cited the example of David Warner, explaining how the opening batsman has adapted to the conditions. He expressed confidence that Virat Kohli will show why he is trusted to open, suggesting the batsman should keep his strike rate high. He explained:
“If we look back, we see David Warner’s performance in this World Cup: in Barbados, on a slow ground, he made 30-something. [39 in 16 balls vs England]. There were about thirty of them that were really well built. It depends on what your reference point is. Are you looking at a hit rate of 100, 50? The way Warner came out with a nice [tough] wicket and ruined the game, that’s what Kohli will face in the Caribbean.
“Leave him alone. He will show you why the Indian selectors have had faith in him in that position. He needs to continue to have a great strike rate. We have clearly seen a pattern emerge here in the World Cup where those six overs [powerplay], you have to be ahead of the game. It is very difficult to catch up. If you look at the second half of the game, it’s a problem. You have to be clinical in the top ten,” he concluded.
