ICC World Cup 2019 | Biggest positive was the way KL Rahul batted at four, reveals Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli claimed that the biggest positive from India’s recent 95-run win against Bangladesh was the clinical performance of KL Rahul at the much-debated number four spot in the Indian batting order. Rahul (108) and MS Dhoni (113) both scored centuries as India posted a total of 359/7 in Cardiff.
The Indian cricket team made their way to a convincing 95-run win against Bangladesh in their second and final warm-up game at Cardiff on Tuesday. Virat Kohli & Co. slumped to a six-wicket loss against New Zealand in their first match but bounced back yesterday as they outplayed Mashrafe Mortaza-led Bangladesh.
It was KXIP’s KL Rahul who rose to the occasion as he scored an impressive 108-ball 99 balls to resurrect the Indian innings after openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were dismissed early on. At the post-match interview, Kohli revealed that he was happy with Rahul’s display at number four.
"I think the biggest positive to come out was the way KL Rahul batted at four. It is important that he gets runs and he is a sound player to get the scoreboard ticking. MS and Hardik were superb as well. We were challenged by their batsmen as well and our spinners got wickets too. The ball might turn a bit in the second half but I feel the swing and seam would be important in the first fifteen overs. Most of the teams winning the toss would want to chase. We have had two good challenges in the two games while batting first," Kohli told reporters after the win against Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Kohli, who himself scored a fast-paced 47 from 46 deliveries, added that he is not concerned with the form of some batsmen in the two warm-up matches played in England. The 30-year old heaped praise on Sharma and Dhawan as he claimed that the two openers turn into stars in ICC events.
"Shikhar and Rohit are quality players, they become stars in ICC events. I understand if guys don't get going right-away in this format, but I am glad with what we got out of these two games. The last 15 overs could be challenging on the field, especially when the game is not interesting and you have to go through the motions. But once the tournament starts nobody would find all these things long, which is what you expect from a world-class tournament like the World Cup," Kohli added.
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