Before T20 World Cup 2024, Virat Kohli had opened for India in T20Is nine times. His only century in the format on the international stage came while opening as well. The former Indian skipper has opened in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal alongside Rohit Sharma in T20 World Cup 2024 after a stellar run in Indian Premier League (IPL) as an opener for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, in New York’s tough batting conditions, he has managed to score just five runs from three games. While there are concerns over Kohli’s form, former RCB coach Sanjay Bangar said that he will shrug off the lean patch to come good in the Super 8 stage.
"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," Bangar said on Star Sports.
"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," the former India batting coach added.
No to Kohli at no.3
Despite Kohli's lean run as opener, Bangar does not want to him to bat at no.3 to accommodate Jaiswal as Rishabh Pant has had a good run in the top-order.
"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," he opined.
Kohli’s good record against Afghanistan
India will go up against Rashid Khan's Afghanistan at Kensington Oval, Barbados on June 20. Kohli has not played a single T20I at the venue. But he has a good T20I record against Afghanistan with 201 runs from four innings at an average of 67 and an impressive strike rate of 171.79.
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