Ahead of the clash between India and Afghanistan in the Super 8s of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, former India cricketer Deep Das Gupta expressed his support for Virat Kohli, who has had a tough run in the ongoing tournament.
Kohli’s performances in the first three group stage matches were below par, scoring 1, 4, and 0 against Ireland, Pakistan, and the United States respectively. Despite this, Das Gupta emphasized that form in T20s can be fleeting and does not define a player’s overall ability.
“I seriously believe form is irrelevant in T20s. If you don’t score runs in a couple of matches, it doesn’t make you a bad player. It just means you are out of runs, which is the case with Virat Kohli right now. Given Virat’s calibre and experience, I am not worried at all,” Das Gupta remarked on Star Sports.
Das Gupta, 47, further noted that Kohli’s recent dismissals haven’t indicated a fundamental flaw in technique but rather a temporary phase without runs.
“He got out on the first ball in the last match, but watching the few balls he played before that, it didn’t seem like he was out of form. His bat and the line of the ball were not misaligned. Someone like Virat will figure it out; there’s no doubt about that. So I am not concerned at all,” the former wicketkeeper-batter added.
Kohli, currently needing 104 runs to become the leading run-scorer in T20Is, has amassed 4042 runs in 120 matches at a strike rate of 137.90. With upcoming matches against Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Australia, Das Gupta remains confident that Kohli will soon find his form and contribute significantly to India’s campaign in the tournament.
India, having topped Group A with an impressive performance, is striving to advance to the semifinals and end their ICC trophy drought since the 2013 Champions Trophy. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team boasts a balanced squad featuring players like Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
The upcoming matches will be crucial for India as they aim to secure victories and stake their claim for the T20 World Cup title, their first since the inaugural edition in 2007.