Virat Kohli: Embracing His New Role for India’s Success

June 29, 2024

Virat Kohli: Embracing His New Role for India’s Success

Abhishek Mukherjee argues that Virat Kohli may struggle for rhythm in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but he does not need to change his approach. Rohit Sharma reassured fans after the semi-final against England, stating, “He’s a quality player, and even the best go through phases of ordinary form. He looks good, and the intent is there.”

In the event, Kohli has scored 75 runs off of 75 balls. With the difficult New York games excluded, his total rises to 70 runs in four innings at a strike percentage of 106. Rohit’s defense of Kohli suggests a captain’s confidence in a teammate, with his remark about Kohli “looking good” carrying significant weight.

Despite the team’s prior struggles, India shown a commitment to reintegrating experienced players into the squad when it chose Rohit and Kohli for the T20Is against Afghanistan earlier this year. success without them. Four spinners in the World Cup squad hinted at anticipated spin-friendly pitches, which influenced the choice of Shivam Dube, a strong spin hitter, over Rinku Singh. Consequently, Kohli was moved to the top of the order alongside Rohit.

One question lingers while the strategy is set: Given Rohit’s willingness to play aggressively, how will Kohli adjust to this new dynamic?

But… would Kohli do the same?

Why the Need for Change?

Reflecting on the World Cup final, India’s early losses necessitated a cautious approach, leaving their batting lineup vulnerable. With Suryakumar Yadav the only remaining specialist batter, Kohli and KL Rahul had to conserve their wickets for minimal returns.

India proactively included Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja this time in the XI, prioritizing additional batting depth over their identical left-arm spin styles. Aside from a conditions-based switch from Mohammed Siraj to Kuldeep Yadav, India maintained a consistent squad throughout the tournament. Although Jadeja faced only 20 balls and bowled 13 overs without a significant impact, his role as the sixth bowler was crucial for the batting lineup.

Far from being just an “insurance” player, Jadeja’s presence shaped India’s aggressive batting strategy, allowing openers to play with intent. Kohli transformed from an anchor to an attacking player, showcasing his ability to adapt.

This shift was evident during the IPL. After a poor start, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru rallied to win six straight games, with Kohli’s strike rate rising from 150 to 162. At 35, he embraced a change in his game for the team’s benefit.

A Tough Initiation into the New Role

India’s World Cup campaign kicked off on a challenging, low-scoring, seamer-friendly pitch, making it difficult for Kohli to adopt a more aggressive approach. He faced a tough start in New York, with two of his three dismissals coming from aerial shots of the third and fifth balls he faced.

Kohli’s troubles persisted as he scored 24 runs off of 24 balls against Afghanistan and 37 off of 28 deliveries with three sixes against Bangladesh. He recorded a duck against Australia and scored only nine runs off nine balls against England, falling victim to aggressive strokes in each match.

Against England, he hit a bold six off Reece Topley but missed a similar attempt when Topley adjusted his length, a risky move on a pitch where some balls were kept low. Kohli’s innings reflected the high-risk nature of Rohit’s batting at the other end, as Rohit also faced his share of early mishaps. While it would be unfair to label Rohit’s innings as “lucky,” it’s clear that Kohli might have enjoyed a similar fortune on a different day.

The Influence of Kohli 2.0 on Indian Cricket

“When you play a slightly high-risk brand of cricket there can be times when it doesn’t come off,” said Rahul Dravid after the game. “But I love the intent. I love the way he [Kohli] went about doing it. It sets a good example for the group as well if he’s willing to do it.”

One can clearly see Dravid’s intention behind setting an example. Kohli, the most prominent star in contemporary cricket, has adapted his game by stepping away from his usual style to embrace a high-risk role. This shift may inspire the rest of the team, particularly the relatively inexperienced players, to recognize that T20 cricket emphasizes roles over individual performance. Moreover, experiencing a series of low scores can be a common and acceptable outcome in such a high-risk approach.

Rohit feels that Kohli is “saving himself for the final”. Dravid feels that “there’s a big one coming up.” While there is no question of leaving Kohli out of the XI in the final, the scenario poses two questions.

Should Kohli continue his current approach or revert to his original style? India has lost six T20 World Cup matches while batting first, each against different opponents, making the anchor’s role often redundant.

In those losses, Kohli averaged 49 runs per match on 37 balls. While these numbers seem better than his 2024 stats, they didn’t lead to victories. He plays a crucial role in the lineup, consistently facing at least 13 balls, with four innings of 40 balls or more.

CricViz data shows he played three aggressive shots in just one of those six innings—against New Zealand in 2021. five balls in four matches, including four against Bangladesh.

Kohli doubled his aggressive shots at the start of his innings.Unlike the traditional anchor, he embraces risk and benefits the team when successful. If he fails, the next batsman is ready, with depth down to No. 8.

This raises the question: Why not use natural hitters like Yashasvi Jaiswal or Sanju Samson? While valid, it’s essential to note India has only chased twice in this World Cup, and Kohli thrives in those situations.

In the final, India may face a target of around 160 against a strong South African attack, making Kohli 1.0 the most reliable option.

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.