India’s star batter Virat Kohli, who entered into the T20 World Cup 2024 on the back of a remarkable IPL season, has failed to make a mark in the competition so far. The right-hander amassed only five runs from three innings against Ireland, Pakistan and USA in the group stage.
Despite the string of single-digit scores, Australian legend Matthew Hayden is confident that Kohli will get back to scoring runs in the Super 8 phase of the tournament in the Caribbean.
Hayden highlighted Kohli's ability to assess various playing conditions and surfaces, which he believes makes him an exceptional batter on the big stage.
"Kohli, in any condition, has been a world-class batter. These venues (Caribbean) where you have to think about the way you construct your innings and also think about the kind of realistic totals that are possible in these different venues," PTI quoted Hayden as saying on Star Sports Press Room.
"Outside of St Lucia, par scores are in the range of 160-170 and Virat, with all his experience, will be able to work out what to do, like hitting spin towards the windward side, depending on how significant it is.
"Virat is in a really good space, he's had extremely tough conditions and no one would have liked that in the competition. Everyone wants to see these great champions being able to play freely and that's going to be the case and experience counts."
During India’s tournament opener against Ireland, Virat Kohli stepped out of his crease and looked to play a big shot but was caught at third man for just 1.
In the game against Pakistan, Kohli started with a glorious cover drive for four but mistimed the next ball to point. However, the real shocker came against USA as he bagged a golden duck while chasing a wide delivery from Saurabh Netravalkar.
Irrespective of the dismissals, Hayden expressed his support for Kohli to be persisted as an opener alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.
"During the IPL, I was advocating that if Kohli is going to be in the team, he needs to open. Virat at three, I don't think we get the best out of him. You can't just turn up and blast 250 on these wickets. You need thinking cricketers; it borders on performance during this World Cup.
"You look back at David Warner's performance this World Cup -- in Barbados on a sluggish wicket, he made 30-odd (39 in 16 balls vs England). It was a really well-constructed thirty. It depends on what your benchmark is. Are you looking at 100s, 50s, strike rate?
"The way Warner came out on a pretty (tough) wicket and blew the game away, that's what Kohli is going to be challenged with in the Caribbean. Just leave him alone. He will show you why the Indian selectors have had faith in him at that position."
While Hayden acknowledged Kohli's consistency and ability to anchor the innings, the former Australian opener asked the Indian stalwart to keep the scoreboard ticking at a decent pace.
"And he needs to continue also to have a great strike back because clearly we've seen the pattern emerge here in the World Cup is that, those six overs, man you have to be in front of the game here.
"It's too hard to catch up if you're looking to go, in the back half of this game. Must be a good, clinical first 10 overs."
India will open their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 campaign against Afghanistan in Barbados on June 20.
