Questions on Kohli’s place in Indian T20 Team
In a season where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans were advised not to call him ‘king’, Virat Kohli lived up to his name to reign supreme over Shikhar Dhawan’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday. Gracing the iconic M.Chinnaswamy Stadium for Bengaluru’s first home game of the new season, the batting icon showcased another batting masterclass in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to silence his critics. A day before Kohli fashioned RCB’s impressive four-wicket win with help from veteran Dinesh Karthik, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri and ex-England skipper Kevin Pietersen had an intense discussion about Team India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup. While Rohit Sharma is confirmed to lead India at the next T20 World Cup, not much has been said about Kohli’s candidature. Before making a sensational comeback at the house of RCB, the former India skipper skipped the entire England Test series due to personal reasons.
Pietersen questions Kohli’s place
Pietersen gave Kohli an honourable mention when the Englishman was on air with Shastri in Mumbai Indians’ blockbuster clash with Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Pietersen argued that the T20 World Cup will need Kohli as a flagbearer of the sport In the United States. “The World Cup is happening in the USA. India are playing Pakistan in New York. You’d want someone like a Virat Kohli to help the game grow,” Pietersen said.
Ravi Shastri’s comments
Issuing a noteworthy reaction, co-commentator Shastri namedropped MS Dhoni and reminded Pietersen that India lifted the famous trophy with a young side back in 2007. “It’s not about growing the game, it’s about winning the competition. The game will grow wherever it needs to grow. What I’m trying to say is no baggage. And India won in 2007 T20 World Cup with a young side. You want youth. You want flamboyance. You want that dash,” Shastri observed.
Virat Kohli sends clear message to all his critics
Sending out a loud message with his breath-taking knock, Kohli demolished the formidable bowling attack of the Punjab Kings at Bengaluru. Putting up a show for the hosts, Kohli played a stroke-filled knock of 77 off 49 balls. The 35-year-old creamed 11 fours and smoked two sixes in his entertaining knock. Collecting the Player of the Match trophy at the post-game presentation, Kohli made it clear that he was not here just to promote the shortest format. “I know my name is now attached to just promoting the game in different parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. I’ve still got it I guess,” Kohli said with a smile.
100 plus scores in T20 Cricket
Kohli reached his 100th fifty-plus score in the shortest format during RCB’s clash with PBKS. Kohli was dropped on zero by Jonny Bairstow, he completed his 51st half-century in 31 balls. The batting maestro is the first Indian with a century of 50-plus scores in T20s. Kohli is placed third and the ex-India skipper is only behind Chris Gayle (110) and David Warner (109) in the exclusive club.
About his innings
Kohli was dismissed by his former RCB teammate Harshal Patel in the 15th over. “I try to give the team a blazing start, but if wickets fall, you have to assess. Wasn’t the usual flat pitch. Disappointed I couldn’t finish the game. The ball was in the slot but sliced it to deep point. They know I play the cover drive well, so they’re not going to allow me to hit gaps. You have to come up with a game plan here and there,” Kohli added.