NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma-led India have enjoyed a splendid run upto the T20 World Cup final remaining undefeated in the tournament.
With 248 runs, the Indian captain is at the third spot in the run-getters’ list. India pacers Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah are at the second and fifth spots in the leading wicket-takers’ list with 15 and 13 scalps respectively.
The only chink in the Indian armour seems to be Virat Kohli who has scored just 75 runs in 7 matches so far.
But former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif feels the batting superstar can become a hero in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
Kaif took to his official X handle saying, “Virat Kohli needs to remember that even Dhoni didn’t have a great World Cup in 2011 but he found form in the final. Small suggestion: He is too good a player to slog, he can play ball on merit and dominate any bowling attack.”
Kaif said, “Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out of form in 2011 ODI World Cup. He played an unbeaten 91-run knock in the final. His six over long on off Kulasekara is etched in everybody’s mind. That’s why I think Virat Kohli has a great chance to become a hero. He must forget that he is in poor form. He had hit a century when India last played South Africa in the ODI World Cup at Eden Gardens. He was brilliant that day and played very well but he wasn’t slogging that day but was playing the ball on merit with proper cricket shots.”
Kais adds, “So I think in the final, he should play the ball on merit with proper cricket shots, he should not slog by exposing his wickets, he’s a great player. Players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav should play fast and Virat Kohli should play till the end the full 20 overs and the play the ball on merit. He’s a big match player and has the chance to become a hero just like Dhoni who was not in form in the 2011 ODI World Cup but when the big match came he played a match-winning unbeaten knock and Virat Kohli can do the same in this match.”
With 248 runs, the Indian captain is at the third spot in the run-getters’ list. India pacers Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah are at the second and fifth spots in the leading wicket-takers’ list with 15 and 13 scalps respectively.
The only chink in the Indian armour seems to be Virat Kohli who has scored just 75 runs in 7 matches so far.
But former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif feels the batting superstar can become a hero in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
Kaif took to his official X handle saying, “Virat Kohli needs to remember that even Dhoni didn’t have a great World Cup in 2011 but he found form in the final. Small suggestion: He is too good a player to slog, he can play ball on merit and dominate any bowling attack.”
Kaif said, “Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out of form in 2011 ODI World Cup. He played an unbeaten 91-run knock in the final. His six over long on off Kulasekara is etched in everybody’s mind. That’s why I think Virat Kohli has a great chance to become a hero. He must forget that he is in poor form. He had hit a century when India last played South Africa in the ODI World Cup at Eden Gardens. He was brilliant that day and played very well but he wasn’t slogging that day but was playing the ball on merit with proper cricket shots.”
Kais adds, “So I think in the final, he should play the ball on merit with proper cricket shots, he should not slog by exposing his wickets, he’s a great player. Players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav should play fast and Virat Kohli should play till the end the full 20 overs and the play the ball on merit. He’s a big match player and has the chance to become a hero just like Dhoni who was not in form in the 2011 ODI World Cup but when the big match came he played a match-winning unbeaten knock and Virat Kohli can do the same in this match.”
Kohli has been dismissed without scoring twice in his worst-ever appearance in six T20 World Cups.
India are aiming to end their 11-year trophy drought in global cricket competitions. South Africa are chasing their first men’s World Cup title in any limited-overs format.