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Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has downplayed concerns over Virat Kohli‘s recent form amid a series of low scores in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli, who recorded scores of 1 and 4 against Ireland and Pakistan respectively, suffered a golden duck against USA, extending his struggle to score runs in the tournament. Despite Kohli’s underwhelming performance so far – accumulating just five runs in three innings at an average of 1.66 and a strike rate of 55.55 – Gavaskar remains optimistic.
Sunil Gavaskar’s key advice to Virat Kohli
Speaking to Star Sports, Gavaskar emphasized that Kohli needs to exhibit patience and trust in his capabilities during this challenging phase. Highlighting Kohli’s track record of winning games for India and his pivotal role in the team’s success over the years, Gavaskar expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to bounce back.
The Mumbai-born cricketer underscored the upcoming phases of the tournament-Super 8s, semi-finals, and potentially the final-as opportunities for Kohli to regain his form and make significant contributions.
“The biggest motivation for any players is to win matches, especially when you are playing for your country. He has done so well for India over the years and won so many games. I think he recognizes that. We are in the early phases of the tournament. There’s Super 8s, semi-finals, and hopefully the final. All he needs to do is show patience and faith in himself, which i think he has plenty,” Gavaskar said.
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With India securing a spot in the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup, Gavaskar believed Kohli will have ample chances to rediscover his form. Acknowledging that low scores can sometimes result from facing good deliveries, Gavaskar encouraged supporters to maintain faith in Kohli’s capabilities.
“When you get three low scores, it doesn’t mean he is not batting well. Sometimes you get good deliveries. Any other day, the ball would’ve gone wide or over the slip for a boundary, today it didn’t. So, there’s nothing to worry about. We have to show faith in him. Much believe that he is going to come good, sooner rather than later,” Gavaskar concluded.
Virat Kohli’s historical contributions and current momentum
Despite his recent struggles, Kohli remains the leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, amassing 1,146 runs at an impressive average of 67.41 and a strike rate of 130.52 in 30 matches. The 35-year-old has been in exceptional form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, where he clinched the Orange Cap with 741 runs at an average of 61.75 and a striking rate nearing 155 in 15 appearances.
With Team India’s strong performance in Group A, winning all three matches, Kohli’s leadership and batting prowess continue to be crucial as they prepare to face Canada in their final group stage match in Florida on June 15.
