Listen to Story Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar wants star batter Virat Kohli to continue batting as an opener despite his poor run with the bat in the first three matches of the T20 World Cup 2024. Bangar reckons changing Kohli's batting position could unsettle batters like Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav in the upcoming T20 World Cup matches. Notably, Kohli entered the T20 World Cup after a sensational IPL season, where he amassed over 700 runs at a strike rate exceeding 150 for Bengaluru.
Expectations were high for him to carry this momentum into the ICC showpiece event, potentially his last opportunity to win an ICC World Cup for India after 13 years. However, three matches into the tournament, Kohli has managed only five runs at an average of 1.66, including a 'Golden Duck' against the USA.
Bangar, speaking on Star Sports, emphasized Kohli's adaptability and his recent performance in the IPL, where he showcased a level of aggression not seen in years. "Yes, he had a fabulous IPL and he played at a pace which wasn't really seen in recent years. So that sort of raised the expectation that he would go to the US and West Indies and play in that particular fashion," Bangar noted.
Kohli's slump in form adds an intriguing subplot to India's otherwise inconsequential game against tournament debutants Canada. The team hopes that the 1850 km journey from New York to Florida will spark a turnaround for Kohli, who must be feeling the sting of his recent performances. The .