Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels Virat Kohli was close to his best against Bangladesh in the Super 8 stage of the T20I showpiece at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on Saturday.
After scoring a run-a-ball 24 against Afghanistan, Kohli scored 37 runs off 28 balls against the Tigers. The talisman scored a solitary four and three sixes in his attacking knock. Kohli also scored a no-look six against Mustafizur Rahman.
Before this match, Kohli had managed only 29 runs in four matches however he looked in decent touch against Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma also scored an attacking knock of 23 runs off 11 balls and gave an aggressive start to his team. Rohit added 39 runs for the opening alliance with Virat Kohli off just 22 balls.
“The batting was incredible. Rohit Sharma started first and that has become his template. He has decided that if the tournament’s name is World Cup, whether it’s T20 or ODI, he will start destructively and score runs as quickly as possible. Two shots and then the third shot went straight up in the air and he got out and went,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“However, he went after setting the template – the captain leading by example. Virat Kohli was at the other end. He said whatever has happened is past, he hit three sixes in this match and only one four. He even hit a no-look shot. He was looking as good as gold. So Kohli’s Virat form was finally seen,” the former India opener added.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and in-form Suryakumar Yadav were dismissed in the same over by Tanzim Hasan Sakib. However, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube were able to add 53 runs for the fifth wicket.
“However, then he (Kohli) got out. If you talk about Tanzim, he is a very decent bowler. He bowled a sort of off-cutter and dismissed Virat Kohli. After that, Suryakumar Yadav hit a six off a bouncer off the first ball but then he too got out immediately due to extra bounce, and India were seen slightly struggling,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant also scored a crucial knock of 36 runs off 24 balls while flirting with danger. Chopra said Pant getting out while trying to once again play the reverse sweep is not a good sign.
“However, Rishabh Pant. He is khatron ka khiladi (plays with danger). It seems like he is playing the wrong game. His name should be in ‘Khatron ke Khiladi’, which comes on some channel, because no one does this job easily. Keep him away from evil eyes, he is batting so well. However, he was dismissed again while playing the reverse sweep. That’s not a good thing,” Chopra stated.
India will next take on Australia at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on Monday.
