Former India batter Suresh Raina said that Virat Kohli will be very important for India at the 2024 T20 World Cup. India beat Afghanistan by 6 wickets at the Holkar Stadium in Indore to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
IND vs AFG, 2nd T20I: Scorecard
India made light work of their 175-run chase at the Holkar Stadium to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in their T20I series, while extending their unbeaten run against Afghanistan.
Shivam Dube and Yashavi Jaiswal were the stars for India on Sunday, January 14, smashing half-centuries as the hosts chased down the target with 6 wickets and 26 balls remaining.
Speaking to Sports18, Raina said Kohli will be very important for India at the T20 World Cup, insisting that he should play the anchor’s role for the team. Kohli scored 29 runs off 16 deliveries, hitting five boundaries against Afghanistan.
“He will be very important (to India’s World Cup plans). The biggest question now will be whether Virat Kohli would be willing to play at No. 3? Rohit Sharma wants him to play No. 3 for India, will he follow the template (in the IPL?). He is trying to improve his strike rate. But I feel it’s the job of the players around him. If I am the captain, I’d tell him to do the anchor’s role because he is the kind of player who can hit boundaries and sixes any time he wants,” said Raina.
He went on to say that India will need Kohli on the pitches in the West Indies and the USA, where the T20 World Cup will be held. Kohli scored at a strike-rate of 181.25 on his first T20I match after a gap of almost 14 months, having last played a T20I in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
“I think in this World Cup, we need Virat Kohli to stay in the middle for long. That is more important than his strike rate. We all saw he scored 765 runs in the ODI World Cup. We need him for those pitches. The pitches are not going to be easy, it would be a little tricky with mystery spinners. You might have to find ways to get twos and quick singles if you are not able to get boundaries. One of the top 3 needs to play through 20 overs,” Raina added.
Kohli will be looking to build on his positive return to the shortest format of the game when India takes on Afghanistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on January 17.
