Suresh Raina, a former batsman for India, feels that Virat Kohli should keep playing T20Is with the same aggressive mentality he has developed over time.
On Thursday, the Men in Blue beat Afghanistan by six wickets in the opening T20I in a three-match series in Mohali. Due to personal reasons, Kohli was unable to play in the first game; however, he is anticipated to be included in the starting lineup for Sunday’s match in Indore.
In 115 T20Is, Virat Kohli scored 4008 runs at an outstanding average of 52.73 and a similarly remarkable strike rate of 137.96.
He always has an attacking mindset, and the way he controls the innings- Suresh Raina on Virat Kohli
When asked if star batsman Virat Kohli should play more aggressively in the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024 and the T20 series against Afghanistan, Raina appeared in a match-talk show on Jio Cinema. In response, Raina said that Kohli ought to continue “attacking” in the T20Is, just as he has done thus far.
“He always has an attacking mindset, the way he controls the innings. 20 overs is a big format. People feel it is a very short format but you still need to play 20 overs. We will be playing the World Cup in the Caribbean and America, the wickets will be slightly challenging. They will be slightly spin-friendly and slow,” Raina elaborated.
There is a reason why Virat Kohli called as a chase master- Suresh Raina
The former India all-rounder said that just having the former captain at the crease will guarantee that the Men in Blue reach a massive total, even as he praised Kohli’s skill at run chases. In 45 innings during T20I run chases, he has amassed 1983 runs at an incredible average of 73.44 and a strike rate of 136.47.
“India have won 17 of their last 19 matches while chasing when Kohli was there. When you chase, you do the calculations in your mind, and that’s why he is called a chase master. He will show intent but if Virat Kohli even stands there for 20 overs, 225-230 will be scored,” he explained.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are there for matches where the team needs a lot of experience – Pragyan Ojha
In the shortest format, Pragyan Ojha was questioned regarding Virat Kohli’s significance to India. He answered:
“He is extremely important. The names you are taking, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they are the backbone. We saw how Virat Kohli won us the match in Australia at the MCG. When you need that experience, we see what these players can do.”
The former spinner for India continued by saying that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli provide the side with much-needed experience. He stated:
“They give cushion to the youngsters. Players with less experience start stumbling in such situations. So you need such players to create the balance. So Kohli probably creates that cushion. I feel these two players are there for matches where the team needs a lot of experience.”
In his three T20I matches in the West Indies, Kohli has amassed 112 runs at a strike rate of 141.77 and an average of 37.33. With 63 runs at an average of 21.00 and a strike rate of 103.27 in three T20I innings, the contemporary batting great’s record in the US is not particularly outstanding.
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