Aakash Chopra supports Virat Kohli’s new role in T20Is. “Even in T20s, Kohli rarely begins belting fours and sixes with the first ball. He doesn’t rush anything. “If he needs to run at a strike rate of 150, he does so on the powerplay,” Chopra added.
Virat Kohli’s comeback to T20Is is much anticipated, as the ace batter is ready to make his first appearance in the shortest format since losing in the semi-finals to England in the T20 World Cup in 2022. He is in fantastic form right now, as the 35-year-old was the highest run-scorer in the ODI World Cup 2023 and performed quite well in the Test series against South Africa.
Meanwhile, former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Kohli should partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order following his return to T20I cricket. He believes the Delhi-born batter has a distinct pattern and need some time to settle in. He said that if Kohli bats in the powerplay, he will have a strong chance to have a quick start, which will benefit the team.
“Throughout the World Cup, Virat Kohli has a playing style that allows him to score a lot of runs. Even in Twenty20 cricket, he rarely starts hitting fours and sixes with the first ball. He takes his time. If he has to sprint at a strike rate of 150, he does so on the powerplay,” Chopra explained on his YouTube channel.
“In New York or the West Indies, the pitches will be such that there will be more opportunities to score runs in the first six overs.” So, ideally, you want Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to be together from the start. If you have to follow that template, start now,” the 46-year-old said.
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I want Suryakumar Yadav to bat at number three: Chopra
Chopra discussed the current difficulty of India’s batting unit. With Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill also in the mix, it is uncertain what direction the team management would take. If Virat is asked to bat at number three with either Jaiswal or Gill starting, Suryakumar Yadav will be forced to play at number four, which Chopra believes is not a smart idea given that he is now the world’s top-ranked T20I batter.
“So, if Yashasvi is accessible, you will convince him to open. However, if you get Yashasvi to open, my issue isn’t just with Kohli at No. 3. I do not want Suryakumar Yadav to stay at number four. I want him at number three. Suryakumar Yadav is India’s top T20 batter. So I want him at No. 3 and allow him time to run the game,” Chopra explained.
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