IPL 2019: RCB poor show won’t affect Virat Kohli in World Cup, believes Sunil Gavaskar

Virat Kohli is currently screeching through a rather horror run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019, representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). His franchise has fallen like a house of cards and is currently the cellar dwellers of the T20 tournament. The Challengers have played six matches thus far and lost all of them. In their next eight games, they need a miracle to qualify for the playoffs.

Kohli’s own form hasn’t been overwhelming as well. The Delhi-born has notched 203 runs at an average of 33.83. His top score of 84 against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bangalore also came in a losing cause. However, despite the shambolic run in the IPL, former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar reckons that the poor run won’t affect Kohli when he dons the national jersey in the World Cup.

He will be fine

“The hallmark of a great player is someone who can focus on the next delivery and Virat is one of them. I don’t think the RCB performance will affect him. When you are playing for India, it is altogether different excitement and energy. So I think the extra week of break he will get if his team does not make it to the playoffs, he will use to refresh himself for the World Cup,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying in Times Now.

“Yes, his franchise will want him to play all the games. So he will have a break if they don’t make it to playoffs. Even if his team has a great run and his team qualifies for the playoffs, no one can question his fitness standards. So he will be fine,” he added.

The tournament is scheduled to get underway on May 30 in England and Wales and India are deemed as one of the favourites. Virat Kohli has been a prolific run-scorer for the Men in Blue, especially in the 50-overs format and a lot would depend on how he plays in the mega event. India’s first match is against South Africa on  Wednesday, June 5 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

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