Virat Kohli's struggles in the ongoing T20 World Cup have been a major talking point, with the star batter managing just five runs in his first three matches. However, his performance against Afghanistan, where he scored 24 off 24 balls, has given hope that he is finding his form.
Kohli, who was the leading run-scorer in the 2022 IPL with 741 runs, has been criticized for his lack of impact in the tournament. His scores in the group stage matches were underwhelming, with knocks of 1, 4, and 0.
Despite the criticism, batting legend Brian Lara has come to Kohli's defense. Lara believes that the time Kohli spent at the crease against Afghanistan, despite not scoring big, will serve as a confidence booster for the Indian batsman.
"24 off 24, you can say that's not great but the most important thing is that he spent some time out there. India has got one step closer to winning this trophy. I believe that Virat Kohli is just gonna go from strength to strength as he comes down to the Caribbean. He's going to Antigua next, you're gonna see him go out there and plough and plough, he's gonna get runs," Lara said on Star Sports.
The Indian team management's decision to persist with Kohli as Rohit Sharma's opening partner has backfired badly and drawn significant criticism, with many questioning the wisdom of Kohli's current batting position.
However, Lara holds a contrasting viewpoint on the matter. He believes that patience is crucial when dealing with a player of Kohli's caliber, given his reputation as a big match performer.
"When he gets into full swing, it's a different story. We just have to be very patient with him, we're gonna see a lot of him there's still a lot of games left in this World Cup," he added.
Kohli's performance in the remaining matches of the tournament will be crucial for India's chances of winning the T20 World Cup. If he can find his form and start scoring runs, India will be a formidable force.
Tags: #ViratKohli, #T20WorldCup, #BrianLara, #India, #Cricket
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