Australian star batsman Steve Smith believes there should be no concerns regarding the involvement of Indian veteran Virat Kohli in the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to take place in the West Indies and the USA in June. Recent reports have suggested that Virat Kohli‘s place in the T20 World Cup squad is not yet assured due to concerns over his strike rate. However, Steve Smith is of the opinion that Kohli adapts his game according to the situation and has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to win matches.
He has done it against us on numerous occasions- Steve Smith on Virat Kohli
During an appearance on Star Sports, Steve Smith shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli, stating,
“He plays the situation. Some wickets you play on, your strike rate doesn’t need to be high. We’ve seen Virat play some masterclass innings and get his team over the line, whether it is for RCB or for India. I’ve been in the opposition and he has done it against us on numerous occasions,”
Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 82 against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 is regarded as one of the finest innings in T20Is, as he single-handedly changed the course of the game. This innings perfectly exemplifies Steve Smith’s explanation of Kohli’s knack for adapting to the situation.
You want the experienced players who stand up in those situations- Steve Smith
Steve Smith believes that India will prioritize players who can perform under pressure when selecting their T20 World Cup squad. He emphasized the importance of Virat Kohli’s experience in such high-profile ICC events, suggesting that India would be reluctant to overlook his proven track record in these situations.
“He (Kohli) plays extremely well under pressure. He loves that. It is such players that you want in your team when you go to the World Cup and face pressure situations. You want the experienced players who stand up in those situations and Virat is certainly one of those,”
Virat Kohli made his T20I comeback earlier this year against Afghanistan after being out of action for over two months due to personal reasons. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star is expected to be eager for big runs in the IPL 2024 season.
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