Changing Virat Kohli's batting position will unsettle Pant, Suryakumar: Bangar

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 14, 2024 21:05 IST

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar wants star batter Virat Kohli to continue batting as an opener despite his poor run with the bat in the first three matches of the T20 World Cup 2024. Bangar reckons changing Kohli's batting position could unsettle batters like Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav in the upcoming T20 World Cup matches. Notably, Kohli entered the T20 World Cup after a sensational IPL season, where he amassed over 700 runs at a strike rate exceeding 150 for Bengaluru. Expectations were high for him to carry this momentum into the ICC showpiece event, potentially his last opportunity to win an ICC World Cup for India after 13 years. However, three matches into the tournament, Kohli has managed only five runs at an average of 1.66, including a 'Golden Duck' against the USA.

Bangar, speaking on Star Sports, emphasized Kohli's adaptability and his recent performance in the IPL, where he showcased a level of aggression not seen in years. "Yes, he had a fabulous IPL and he played at a pace which wasn't really seen in recent years. So that sort of raised the expectation that he would go to the US and West Indies and play in that particular fashion," Bangar noted. Kohli's slump in form adds an intriguing subplot to India's otherwise inconsequential game against tournament debutants Canada. The team hopes that the 1850 km journey from New York to Florida will spark a turnaround for Kohli, who must be feeling the sting of his recent performances. The pitch at Broward County Stadium in Florida may offer some respite, being less unpredictable than the one in New York, where uneven bounce and a slow outfield overshadowed the cricket.

However, Bangar cautioned against expecting Kohli to replicate this approach under all circumstances. "This is something that is not dependent on a particular batsman. He will obviously assess the situation, assess the conditions, and bat accordingly. So it's not that the way we want him to bat, he is going to bat. He will bat differently," he added.

Despite Kohli's struggles, the Indian team's overall performances have not been impacted. However, his low scores, especially as an opener alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, have increased the pressure on subsequent batters. Fortunately, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav have stepped up admirably. Pant scored 36 and 42 against Ireland and Pakistan, respectively, ensuring India's victories. Suryakumar Yadav, after a hesitant start, hit a crucial fifty against the USA, helping to compensate for Kohli's lean run.

Bangar stressed that a shift in Kohli's batting position could unsettle the established order within the team. "Coming at this point, changing his batting position will sort of also lead to unsettling the other batsmen like you have settled and contributing number three in Rishabh Pant. You want to have somebody like Shivam Dube at five. Surya has got to bat at four. So in a way, the batting has sort of settled," Bangar elaborated.

He further pointed out Kohli's successful track record opening the batting in T20 internationals, although noting it hasn't happened for India in the World Cup yet. "It's not that Virat hasn't scored runs for India, opening the batting in T20 internationals. He hasn't done that for India in the World Cup, so it's just a matter of time," Bangar concluded.

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