'I feel that a big score is just around the corner' - Sanjay Bangar believes Virat Kohli is poised to rediscover form in upcoming matches
The star icon has endured a disappointing New York leg in the ongoing edition of the marquee event.
Virat Kohli epitomizes prolific run-scoring, with his name being virtually synonymous with this achievement. As the quintessential all-format player, this legendary figure has perfected his craft across a multitude of disciplines, with the T20 World Cup being yet another arena where his mastery shines. He emphatically dominates the charts in the T20 World Cup with his batting prowess, amassing 1,156 runs in just 30 matches. Remarkably, he has accomplished this feat in only 28 innings, the fewest among the top nine run-scorers on the list.
However, his first three matches in the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup are performances he would want to forget swiftly. A series of scores - 1, 4, and 0 - uncharacteristic of the luminary, has sparked considerable debate about his form and whether he has become a liability at the top of the order. This has led to discussions about moving him down to No. 3, which would subsequently push wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, to the No. 5 spot, a position where Pant has not found much success.
However, during an interview with Star Sports, former Indian batting coach, Sanjay Bangar, provided a rationale for Kohli's recent struggles. Bangar pointed out that despite Kohli's lack of success during India's T20 World Cup campaign in New York, other batters have encountered similar challenges too. He highlighted the intricacies of run-scoring on the track at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, expressing optimism that a significant innings is imminent, given Kohli's competitive spirit and his history of delivering in high-pressure situations. Bangar also emphasized Kohli's track record in the T20 World Cup, predicting that a substantial score is on the horizon.
"Yeah, I agree that Virat Kohli hasn't scored in the New York leg, but none of the other batsmen have managed to score a lot of runs on this track too. This is a tricky surface, and therefore, I feel that a big score is just around the corner. He is a player who has excelled at the World Cup events and once the tournament moves to the next phase, those competitive juices will start flowing again and he will start putting up performances for his team," shared Bangar during a chat with Star Sports.
Bangar, who faced challenges in securing a permanent place in the Indian team during his playing days, brought about a pivotal metamorphosis in India's batting performances throughout his five-year tenure as batting coach. Under the 51-year-old's guidance, India achieved numerous milestones, including Indian batters compiling more than 150 centuries. Moreover, India won 30 out of 52 Test matches and 82 out of 120 ODIs during this period. The Test team also maintained its position at the top of the ICC Test Rankings for over three-and-a-half years.
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