'Important thing is that he spent some time out there' - Brian Lara believes Virat Kohli's purple patch is round the corner

Brian Lara has backed Virat Kohli to get back among the runs in Antigua, where India face Bangladesh in their second game in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Saturday, June 22.

Kohli had a tremendous Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where he won the Orange Cap for the second time in his career. However, in the ongoing edition of the T20 World Cup, the legendary batter has struggled to replicate his IPL form. Kohli registered scores of 1, 4, and 0 in the first three games against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA respectively. On Thursday, June 20, the former India captain scratched and clawed his way to a run-a-ball 24 against Afghanistan in Barbados in a Super Eight fixture.

Lara said that the time Kohli spent at the crease against the Afghans will stand him in good stead and fans might see him returning to form in the forthcoming game against Bangladesh.

"24 off 24, you can say that’s not great but the most important thing is that he spent some time out there. India has got one step closer to winning this trophy. I believe that Virat Kohli is just gonna go from strength to strength as he comes down to the Caribbean. He’s going to Antigua next, you’re gonna see him go out there and plough and plough, he’s gonna get runs," Lara said on Star Sports.

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We just have to be patient with him, there’s still a lot of games left in this World Cup: Lara

The Indian team management decided to go with Kohli as skipper Rohit Sharma's opening partner in the marquee event. This move has forced the talented Yashasvi Jaiswal to warm the bench. The decision to open with the veteran hasn't paid dividends as yet. Cricket enthusiasts have criticised the ploy but Lara feels that there is still some games remaining in the World Cup and said that it is important to be patient with someone who is a big match player like Kohli.

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"When he gets into full swing, it’s a different story. We just have to be very patient with him, we’re gonna see a lot of him there’s still a lot of games left in this World Cup," Lara further added in the same interaction.