ICC World Cup 2019 | The concern for India is that it is the Virat Kohli show, says Kris Srikkanth
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Krishnamachari Srikkanth praised Virat Kohli’s ability to play every role for his team across any format of the game, calling Virat’s control over the game as his true mastery. However, Srikkanth worries that the no.1 ODI batsman is not being supported well enough by the batsman around him.
Virat Kohli hasn’t stolen the show with swashbuckling hundreds, nor is he the leading run-scorer at the World Cup. He isn’t even India’s top run-getter at the tournament so far. But, former Indian cricketer Srikkanth believes it is a one-man show by Virat Kohli in India’s batting department in World Cup so far.Â
After only scoring 18 in the opening match against South Africa, the Indian captain has registered four back-to-back fifties. Against the Aussies, Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya were motoring along, so Kohli played second-fiddle and cashed in later with a near run-a-ball 82, which has been his highest score so far.Â
Against archrivals Pakistan, Rohit Sharma was in full flow, and Kohli again stepped aside to knock the ones and twos, making 77 off 65 balls. When every other batsman struggled to muster up 75+ strike rates, Kohli eased past against the Afghan attack on a tough pitch with 67 off 63 balls. Against the Windies, the pattern repeated itself with the skipper making a fluent 72, to set up another win.Â
And this ability to play every role across all formats of the game, assessing conditions rapidly, and controlling the game from one end has been a true mastery of king Kohli, according to Srikkanth.Â
“He can drop anchor and let his partner shine if that is what the team needs, then he can shift through the gears if the situation demands and keep pushing the run rate. The only concern for India is that the batting at the moment is slightly the Virat Kohli show,” he wrote in a column for ICC, reported Scroll.
Around him, Rohit has failed to fire in the last two innings, KL Rahul has failed to convert his good starts, and the lower middle order with Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, and MS Dhoni is yet to fully convince anyone. So, Srikkanth suggested a change in the lineup for the England game on Sunday.Â
“If I was involved with the team management, I think I would consider putting a guy like Rishabh Pant in at No.4. They have brought him over here now, he is ready to go and, most importantly, he has played in England before so understands the conditions,” Srikkanth wrote.Â
Srikkanth commends the consistency of the Indian bowlers to make up for the lapses in batting. This, he believes, will be India’s key come the business end of the tournament.Â
“India’s bowling has been fantastic all tournament. Mohammed Shami has come in and been a real wicket taker. And the best news of all is that the wrist spinners are coming to the party. As this tournament reaches the business end, they are going to be more and more important and Kohli will be so pleased with how they are performing,” he further added.
