Virat Kohli has played 3 matches of T20 World Cup 2024. In the history of the tournament, Virat has played 27 innings before this, came at number-3 in all and never got out for less than 5 runs, but as soon as he started opening, he could not even touch the 5-run mark. In such a situation, the question is bound to arise whether Team India is losing Kohli's wicket easily? Should he leave opening and come at number-3? If Kohli comes down, then who will open.
Virat Kohli the highest run scorer in T20 World Cup, has never had such a bad phase in the history of the tournament. Before the 9th T20 World Cup, he scored 14 half-centuries in 27 matches, scored between 10 to 40 runs 8 times and did not bat twice. Kohli's score was less than 10 runs in only 3 innings, in that too, once he remained not out after scoring 2 runs and the team won. That is, in this tournament, he failed only twice in 10 years. In 2012, he could score only 2 runs against South Africa and 9 years later in 2021, he could score only 9 runs against New Zealand.
Virat Kohli, the most consistent batsman in the history of the tournament, batted at number-3 till 2022. He was successful every time, but in 2024 he could score only one run against Ireland and 4 against Pakistan. Kohli got a golden duck against the USA, that is, he got out on the very first ball without opening the account. Kohli got out on zero for the first time in the T20 World Cup. The common thing in all three matches was that Virat came out to open instead of number-3 position. He has scored a lot of runs in IPL at this position, but could not succeed in ICC tournaments.
Virat opened for India in 9 matches before the World Cup. He scored 400 runs at an average of around 57 and a strike rate of over 161. This included a century and 2 half-centuries, but as soon as he took up the opening position in the World Cup, he stopped scoring runs. He often plays cautiously and responsibly at number 3, but as an opener his focus is on scoring fast.
Virat has scored 8 centuries as an opener in the IPL. In 2024, he scored 741 runs at a career-best strike rate of 155. Virat adopted the same aggressive strategy in the World Cup as well, but failed. Against Ireland, he came forward and tried to play a big shot and was caught out at third man. Whereas, against Pakistan, he was caught out at covers while trying to hit a four. Against America, he went to hit a four on the very first ball, but was caught out behind the wicket. That is, the aggressive strategy is not working for him in the World Cup.
India played all its matches in Nassau Stadium in New York. Batting is so difficult there that only 2 teams could score more than 120 runs in 16 innings. Only 5 batsmen scored fifties, out of which 4 took more than 40 balls. That means not only Virat but other batsmen also faced problems in New York. Even captain Rohit Sharma got out on 13 and 3 runs after scoring a fifty against Ireland.
Whether Virat's form will return or not, it will be known only from the upcoming matches, but how strong he is at number-3 can definitely be known. Virat played 120 T20s for India and batted at number-3 108 times. In these, he scored 3,637 runs at an average of more than 51 and a strike rate of more than 136. These include 35 half-centuries. Apart from this, he opened in 12 matches.
In the T20 World Cup from 2012 to 2022, Virat scored 1141 runs at an average of around 82. His strike rate was more than 131 and he also scored 14 half-centuries. In the last World Cup, he also played a miraculous innings of 82 runs against Pakistan by coming at number-3. That is, if Virat leaves opening and comes to bat at number-3, then according to the previous records, his performance will be good.
Also Read: Highest run scorer in T20 World Cup history
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