Former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden has expressed confidence in Indian star Virat Kohli's ability to perform well during the Super Eights phase of the ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies, emphasizing that Kohli is a top-tier batter capable of excelling in any environment. India is set to face Afghanistan in their Super Eights match in Barbados on Thursday. India concluded their group stage with a perfect record of three victories against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA in Group A, with their final match against Canada being washed out. Afghanistan secured the second spot in Group C, finishing with three wins and one loss to the West Indies. Despite being the leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, Kohli has had a rough start, scoring just 1 against Ireland, 4 against Pakistan, and 0 against the USA. Two of his dismissals were due to aggressive batting, while the third was a result of him edging a ball outside off stump, a common challenge for him. Prior to the tournament, Kohli had an outstanding Indian Premier League season for Royal Challengers Bangalore, amassing 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69, including a century and five fifties, and earning the Orange Cap. His aggressive tactics against spinners were particularly effective, but they failed to yield results on the challenging pitches of the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. Hayden believes that Kohli will be eager to improve his scores in the West Indies, adapting his approach to the conditions in Barbados, Antigua, and Saint Lucia. 'Kohli is a world-class batter in any condition,' Hayden stated on Star Sports Press Room, as reported by ESPNCricinfo. He further explained that the Caribbean venues require careful innings construction and realistic scoring strategies, with par scores typically around 160-170. Hayden acknowledged the tough conditions in the USA and emphasized the importance of Kohli's experience in adapting to different scenarios. He also suggested that opening the batting with captain Rohit Sharma would be ideal for Kohli, despite the early use of spin by opposing teams. Hayden highlighted the need for strategic batting, citing David Warner's performance in the World Cup as an example of effective innings construction. He concluded by advising Kohli to maintain a high strike rate, especially during the crucial first ten overs of the game.
Text: Lara Palmer
19.06.2024
Former Australian Batsman Believes Indian Star Will Adapt and Excel in Caribbean Conditions