In the modern day of cricket , where Virat Kohli is considered to be the greatest player of the current era due to his pyrotechnics on and off the field, his availability for the upcoming mega event the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has grown huge interests amongst cricket lovers and fans . Virat Kohli over the years have burdened Indian hopes on his shoulders through immaculate innings in the shortest format of the game will like to give his all in conquest of the elusive ICC title.
Though not playing T20I cricket over a year now the likes of Virat Kohli still remains a popular choice to play in shortest format. The other poster boy of Indian cricket who has carried India’s dream on his shoulder and an successful captain for his franchise in the Indian Premier league, current Indian captain Rohit Sharma is now brewing the headlines with a success on South Africa tour.
The swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma has once again made himself available for the upcoming mega event the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 which could be his final journey in the conquest of the coveted ICC Title. With the next big thing the ICC World T20 Cup 2024 set to take place in June and the schedule being out for the same, IPL 2024 would be a event for practicing for the ultimate world title in June.
Virat Kohli’s epic performances in T20I world cups for India
Virat Kohli has played just two T20I games since the 2022 T20 World Cup. Indian cricket fans have been rocked by a recent report claiming that Virat Kohli might not be picked in the national squad for the impending 2024 T20 World Cup. Not only fans, but even veteran cricketers and experts have been left in disbelief over the report, given that Kohli had ended up as the leading run-getter for India in the last edition of the tournament, scoring 296 runs in six matches, which included that iconic knock against Pakistan in Melbourne.
Virat Kohli had taken a break from T20I cricket following the end of the 2022 edition of the World Cup in a bid to focus on the 2023 ODI tournament. He later skipped the Australia T20I series at home and the tour of South Africa as well post the 50-over contest, which sparked discussions over his future in the format before making a return in the series against Afghanistan in January.
Seeing this prowess of Virat Kohli in the shortest format former Australian opener and CSK player Matthew Hayden describes Virat Kohli’s wicket as a key factor in the opening match at Chepauk.
Virat Kohli can be at his most dangerous on Chepauk venue- Matthew Hayden
Former Chennai Super Kings opener Matthew Hayden has told the five-time IPL Champions that they would need to get rid of Virat Kohli early in the powerplay ahead of the 2024 opener on Friday, March 22.
With Virat Kohli sparking a comeback to cricket after a two month paternity leave break, fans are expecting him to score big runs from the outset. The 35-year old has smashed over 600 runs in IPL 2023 with 2 centuries at an average of 53.25. The highest no of individual runs in an single season still belongs to Virat Kohli having scored whopping 973 runs in the 2016 edition of IPL.
Speaking to Star Sports, Hayden listed that Chepauk as a tricky wicket to bat on as the ball does not comes to bat . The 103- Test veteran even reckons that even a total between 130-150 would be a tricky chase for the oppositions.
“It is a tricky venue to bat on, especially as an opening batsman. It gets a weird tennis ball-type bounce, and it’s quite slow and difficult to play shots early, but the longer you bat, the game opens up and that’s where Virat can be at his most dangerous,” said Matthew Hayden.
“A 150, 130 at times has been plenty of runs when you get guys as good as Jadeja there who bowls stump to stump with the odd ball to turn and the oddball that stays low, it’s really tricky, so they’re going to need Virat Kohli out early inside the powerplay,” he added.
It’s a blockbuster showdown – Matthew Hayden on upcoming IPL opener
Virat Kohli is returning to cricket after a break as he was on paternity leave and would be heading to Chepauk, where his record isn’t the best by his own lofty standards.
In 12 matches, the RCB star has scored just 362 runs at an average of 30.17 and a strike-rate of 111.38. This was duly pointed out by Hayden while chatting to Star Sports and said that someone as great as Kohli has also been reduced in terms of performance by the Chepauk. However, the former Aussie opener feels that if Kohli can bat the entire innings, then he could put in a match-winning performance for his side. He explained :
“One thing is for certain, it’s a blockbuster showdown. Virat Kohli this year is going to be celebrated across all the games. His record is a 30 average at Chepauk stadium with a strike rate of 111. You know what that means? For someone like Virat, even the greatness of Virat has been reduced in terms of his overall performance at that venue,”
Apart from Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Faf Du Plessis also loom as dangerous batters in RCB’s line-up making the opening encounter an mouth watering and fantastic start to IPL 2024.