Cricket

Virat Kohli's performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 has been a topic of discussion among cricket enthusiasts. Despite being a star batter, Kohli's scores so far have been underwhelming: 1, 4, 0, 24, 37, and 0.Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has analyzed Kohli's batting technique and identified an area for improvement. According to Gavaskar, Kohli's balance while stepping out needs to be enhanced."The way he batted in Barbados, made 24, but the ball was hitting the middle of the bat. The same thing happened in Antigua. One technical thing that I want to talk about is that during the IPL, when he used to step out and play, his balance was great. But here his balance is not that good. For that reason, the ball is going on to the stumps when he misses or the ball is not being middled," Gavaskar said on Star Sports before the India vs Australia match.Gavaskar emphasized the importance of balance in Kohli's batting. "If his balance is right, then there is nothing else to worry about. The amount of time he spends on the pitch will give him more confidence."Gavaskar's analysis comes after Kohli's dismissal against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. Kohli was well set on 37 when he was clean bowled by a slower delivery from Tanzim Hasan Sakib.Gavaskar's reaction to Kohli's dismissal was in contrast to his praise for Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach. Rohit had scored a quickfire 11-ball 23 to get India off to a flying start in the powerplay."Someone who has hit 10 runs in two balls would not go for a big shot, but for Rohit Sharma, it is all about the team," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.The difference in reaction from Gavaskar to Rohit and Kohli's dismissals left several fans unhappy on social media. The former India batter was tagged "biased" and a "hypocrite" by fans.

India's quest for T20 World Cup glory in 2024 hinges on finding the optimal balance in their playing XI, according to former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. During the group stage in the United States, India opted for a combination of three frontline pacers and two spinners. However, in the Super 8 match against Afghanistan, Mohammed Siraj was replaced by Kuldeep Yadav to bolster the spin attack. Hardik Pandya served as the third pacer, while Shivam Dube provided an additional seaming option.Manjrekar believes that India's diverse player pool allows them to adapt to different conditions and field the most effective lineup. "It's always advantageous to have multiple options, and that's crucial for any team management when there are exciting players to choose from," Manjrekar said on 'Caught & Bold' on Disney Hotstar. "However, they must prioritize selecting the best playing 11 to maximize India's chances of winning in specific conditions."India's impressive run in the ongoing T20 World Cup has showcased their versatility. They topped Group A with seven points after defeating Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA. Their final group stage match against Canada was abandoned due to rain. In their first Super 8 game, India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs, with Suryakumar Yadav shining with a blistering 53 off 28 balls.India will face Bangladesh on Saturday at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, aiming to extend their unbeaten streak. The team's roster includes a mix of experienced and emerging players: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. Reserves include Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan.

Virat Kohli, the star batter for Royal Challengers Bangalore, has expressed his disapproval of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He believes that it disrupts the balance of the game and favors batters over bowlers.Kohli's concerns stem from the expectation that bowlers will concede boundaries on every delivery, forcing batters to score at a high rate from the start. He argues that this undermines the traditional balance between bat and ball, which he believes is essential for an exciting and competitive match."I agree with Rohit [Sharma]; I say it how it is. If you see in this IPL, okay, entertainment is [on] one side, but the bowlers are feeling like what they should do [to restrict the batters]," Kohli said. "I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede a four or a six every ball."Kohli also pointed out that not all teams have exceptional bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah or Rashid Khan, which further exacerbates the imbalance. He believes that the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match, gives an unfair advantage to teams with a strong batting lineup."One extra batter is the reason why I am playing with a 200-plus strike rate in the powerplay. I know there is a batsman coming in at No. 8 as well," Kohli said.Kohli's sentiments have been echoed by other players and coaches, including Rohit Sharma, Ricky Ponting, Axar Patel, and Mukesh Kumar. However, some, like R Ashwin and Ravi Shastri, have supported the rule, arguing that it encourages innovation and forces players to adapt to the changing game.Despite his concerns about the Impact Player rule, Kohli remains excited for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins just five days after the IPL final. He is eager to contribute to India's success and believes that the team has a strong chance of winning the tournament."I can say I am hungry as ever. If I don't have the hunger, you will not see me in the tournament," Kohli said. "If I don't have that mindset, I cannot play... Once the team atmosphere builds up, it's a beautiful journey."