Former England captain Nasser Hussain has defended Virat Kohli to deliver a standout performance for India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa on June 29 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
Kohli is participating in his sixth T20 World Cup, having been his country’s leading run-scorer since 2014. However, the star player has endured a concerning dip in form during the tournament. Opening the innings alongside captain Rohit Sharma, Kohli has mustered only 71 runs at a meager average of 10.71 across seven matches.
Despite this underwhelming performance, Kohli has received unwavering support from his team, with Rohit expressing confidence that the prolific right-hander is saving his best for the business end of the competition.
Recalling Kohli’s brave knock against Pakistan during the T20 World Cup 2022, Nasser Hussain emphasized that Kohli is the one who consistently steps up in crucial games.
“In the high-stakes match against Pakistan at the MCG, India were initially struggling. But Kohli stepped up and delivered when it mattered most, cementing that game as one of the biggest for the Indians. He is a consistent and reliable in crucial games,” said Hussain to Sky Sports.
“Virat Kohli is a proven performer who has consistently delivered over the last decade, maintaining a strike rate of 138. He should continue batting in his signature style, providing stability in the innings. While he had a dismal outing on the challenging New York pitch but had an exceptional IPL. Kohli’s quality as a player and his ability to perform in big matches is beyond doubt. The team should rally around him and play their natural, aggressive game, rather than trying to set a specific tone throughout,” he added.
“He has struggled due to that New York pitch. Since then, the Indian team has been diligently practicing in the nets, with Raul Dravid working on the players regain their batting rhythm. Virat Kohli, in particular, is a rhythm player – unlike the more power-focused Hardik Pandya. Kohli needs some time at the crease to get going. When the stakes are high, India will want him, as he is the player they need to come through in clutch situations,” he concluded.