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Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has offered his support to Virat Kohli despite the Indian captain’s struggles in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli, known for his consistent performances, has had his worst T20 World Cup to date, scoring just 75 runs in seven matches at an average of 10.71.

Kohli’s dismissals in this tournament have been unconventional. Typically known for his measured approach, he has been more aggressive during the powerplay overs, leading to his downfall on several occasions.

In the semi-final against England, Kohli’s attempt to continue his attacking play after hitting a six resulted in him being bowled by Reece Topley, highlighting his current challenges. As the final against South Africa approaches, observers are curious to see how Kohli will adjust his approach.

During a recent appearance on a local TV show, Ahmed Shehzad expressed support for Virat Kohli amidst his recent struggles in the tournament. Shehzad emphasized that Kohli’s overall career statistics should be considered before making judgments about his caliber as a player.

“When you will see his stats, only then you’ll realize what are his performances. He has scored 72-73 centuries and is not playing against any small team in the last five-six years. He is always playing against the top three teams in cricket. He has played so many World Cups. Looking at all his stats, strike rates, averages, he should be allowed at least 15-16 innings more to get back into form,” Shehzad replied.

During the conversation, Shehzad also noted that Virat Kohli appeared to be under pressure and was trying to make a statement against England.

“There is a time when management comes to you and asks, ‘What do you think? Do you need a break?’ Today, Virat Kohli seemed to be under pressure. I think he wanted to prove a point today (vs England),” Shehzad wondered.

“He was sent out to open from No. 3 position. the plan is clear that he needs to make use of powerplay restrictions. We saw it in every game. It seemed like he is trying too much,” he added.

Ahmed Shehzad remarked that Virat Kohli’s batting showed a lack of clarity, noting that the 32-year-old seemed to have played a rash shot resulting in his dismissal.

“When a batter is in form, he chooses and picks his areas. But today, it seemed like he is going after the ball even when it’s not there to hit. When such things happen, it is likely that the batter is under pressure and there is lack of clarity. When it happens to such a big player, then he will want to prove a point. Looking at his innings today, it seemed like he wanted to prove a point and played a rash shot,” Shehzad concluded.

In this tournament, Virat Kohli has been operating as an opener, a departure from his usual position at No. 3 where he has typically amassed most of his runs. His highest score so far has been 37 against Bangladesh. The spotlight now shifts to whether Kohli can deliver a match-winning innings in the final, a critical moment for his team.

In contrast, Kohli’s opening partner Rohit Sharma has been in exceptional form with the bat. Currently the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer, Rohit has accumulated 248 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 41.33 and a striking strike rate of 155.97.