It seems that Virat Kohli exhausted the runs he had in store for the World Cup during his stellar IPL 2024 season. In India’s first T20 World Cup match against Ireland, Kohli managed to score only one run off five balls.
In what was supposed to be the biggest match for India in the T20 World Cup against Pakistan, Kohli scored just four runs off three balls before getting out.
This is the same player who won the Orange Cap in IPL 2024 by scoring 741 runs, including two centuries, and looked unstoppable with his batting prowess. His remarkable form in the IPL had raised expectations, particularly around who would open the batting for India alongside Rohit Sharma.
While Yashasvi Jaiswal was initially set to open, Kohli’s exceptional performance as an opener in the IPL prompted the Indian team management to make a new decision. Jaiswal was dropped from the team, and Kohli was given the opportunity to open with Rohit Sharma.
However, in the two matches so far, he has failed to make an impact. Despite the loss to Pakistan, it is unlikely to significantly affect India’s chances of qualifying.
India in good shape but Virat Kohli needs to get back to form before Super 8
One notable factor is the difference in the pitch conditions between the IPL and the World Cup. In the IPL, Kohli batted on flat pitches that were conducive to hitting big shots over the field, with smaller boundaries and favorable dew conditions, making batting relatively easy.
In contrast, the wickets being used in the 2024 World Cup are not as easy to score on.
Kohli needs to adjust his game for the World Cup. He must shift from an aggressive style to one that involves building his innings, taking singles and doubles, and absorbing pressure, as the expectations and stakes in the World Cup are much higher than in the IPL.
The question now is whether Virat Kohli will make the necessary changes to his batting approach or if Yashasvi Jaiswal should be brought back into the team, with Kohli moving to the number three position in the batting order.
