Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has advised Virat Kohli to adopt a slightly more conservative approach on the hard wickets in New York ahead of India’s ICC T20 World Cup match against the USA. The United States of America stunned Pakistan with a victory in the Super Over. With two wins from two games, India leads the group with four points, closely followed by the USA, who also have four points but an inferior net run rate.
Virat Kohli’s Struggles in Early Matches
https://gty.im/2156790798
Virat Kohli, the highest run-scorer in the history of the T20 World Cup, has had a tough start to the tournament, scoring just one and four runs against Ireland and Pakistan, respectively. He was dismissed both times while playing aggressively.
Virat Kohli entered the T20 World Cup following an outstanding Indian Premier League (2024) season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He amassed 741 runs at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69 in 15 innings, including five fifties and a century. This was his best strike rate in IPL history, showcasing an aggressive approach, especially against spinners.
Manjrekar’s Advice: Return to Old Form
https://gty.im/2156784666
Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted that Virat Kohli has adapted his playing style in response to criticism about his strike rate over the past two years. During the IPL, Virat Kohli achieved a strike rate of 150, though Manjrekar suggested this aggressive mindset might not suit the challenging pitches in New York.
“The problem with Virat Kohli is that there has been a lot of talk about his strike rate over the last two years, and he completely changed that during this IPL season. His strike rate had reached 150, although others had almost 200, but that is a different topic. He probably must have come to the T20 World Cup with that same mindset, but given the pitches, the old Kohli would have been much better,” Manjrekar said.
Adapting to Pitch Conditions
Manjrekar recommended that Virat Kohli revert to his previous, more conservative playing style to better suit the tough conditions in New York, where runs have been hard to come by, and batters have played cautiously. Almost all games played in the Eastern region have seen low scores, which indicates how tough it is to bat on. Teams like India, Ireland, Pakistan, Canada, and the USA all have struggled.
Moreover, greats of the game like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have had difficulties in reading the pitch.
“So, I feel someone should tell him to bring back that earlier version of himself and then change again when the pitches become flat,” Manjrekar added.
As India prepares to face the USA, Manjrekar’s advice for Virat Kohli to adjust his approach could be crucial. With challenging pitches ahead, a return to his more cautious and methodical style might help Virat Kohli regain his form and contribute significantly to India’s success in the T20 World Cup.
Also read: Hardik Pandya Silences Critics with Stellar Bowling Performance in T20 World Cup
About The Author
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports offers. Follow us on X, @TotalApexSports, and read our content on two other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports
