With the T20 World Cup 2024 final looming, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has offered his take on Virat Kohli's performance and ideal batting position. Kohli's struggles in the tournament are no secret, having managed a meager 75 runs across seven innings. Kohli's struggles have been evident throughout the World Cup. He's fallen short of expectations, averaging a mere 10.71 runs per dismissal with a slow strike rate of 100. During the semi-final against England, glimpses of his usual brilliance emerged with a powerful six, but his innings was cut short, dismissed for 9 runs. This lean patch stands in stark contrast to his stellar IPL 2024 season, where he dominated as an opener, scoring over 700 runs and securing the Orange Cap.
With the T20 World Cup final approaching, discussions about India's batting order are heating up. Many fans and analysts are advocating for the inclusion of young talent Yashasvi Jaiswal, potentially pushing Virat Kohli down to number 3. However, former captain Sourav Ganguly believes Kohli should retain his opening position.
Don’t rule Virat Kohli out in the final: Ganguly
"Virat should continue to open. He just had a World Cup of 700 runs seven months ago. He is human. Sometimes, he will also fail, and you have to accept it. People like Kohli, Tendulkar, Dravid, they are institutions for Indian cricket. Three-four matches don’t make them weaker players. Don’t rule him out in the final tomorrow," Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI.
India captain Rohit Sharma has also expressed his confidence in Kohli, backing him to deliver a strong performance in the crucial T20 World Cup final.
"He (Kohli) is a quality player. Any player can go through (dip in form) that. We do understand his class and we do understand his importance in all these big games. Form is never a problem. When you’ve played cricket for 15 years, form is never a problem. He’s looking good, the intent is there, he’s probably saving for the final," Rohit in the post-match presentation.
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The stage is set for a compelling T20 World Cup final. India seeks to recapture their lost glory, having last lifted the trophy in the tournament's debut edition back in 2007. South Africa, on the other hand, will be making their maiden World Cup final appearance (across all formats) after enduring the heartbreak of seven previous semi-final defeats. This match promises a clash of aspirations: India yearning for a revival, and South Africa striving to etch their name in history.
Ganguly was also asked if he has any advise for Rohit Sharma for the T20 World Cup final, to which he said:
"I don't want to advise him. I captained India in three tournaments, and I lost two. In one, I was the joint winner so I don't want to advise him anything and just wish him the best of luck," Ganguly concluded.
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