(PTI Photo)
Former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik is confident that despite his recent string of low scores in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli will bounce back and perform well in the upcoming Super 8 stage.
“Rohit just got a 50 in first match. How much can he score on these pitches? Team itself is only scoring 100. Don’t worry about Virat Kohli. He will score when it matters,” Karthik was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz.
“He is never not performed in the World Cup, and there is no doubt about this World Cup too. He will 100 per cent perform. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Virat Kohli will be there. We have qualified for the Super Eight. I promise you, he will be all guns blazing once we reach the Caribbean,” he added.
Kohli’s recent struggles pose a concern for India ahead of their final group match against Canada on Saturday.
Coming into the T20 World Cup on the back of a stellar IPL performance with Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he scored over 700 runs at a strike-rate of 150-plus, expectations were high for Kohli to continue his form in this ICC tournament, which could be his last chance to secure a World Cup for India after 13 years.
However, across three matches so far, Kohli has managed just five runs at an average of 1.66, including a golden duck against the USA. His lack of form has added an intriguing subplot to the game against Canada, even though the match holds little consequence for India.
The journey from New York to Florida, spanning 1850 kilometers, might offer a fresh start for Kohli, who must be eager to turn around his fortunes after a disappointing series of outings.
Unlike the challenging conditions in New York, where pitch unevenness and slow outfield dominated discussions, the Broward County stadium’s pitch may provide a more favorable playing surface.
India has already secured a spot in the Super Eight stage with three consecutive victories. Captain Rohit Sharma and the team will be hoping for clear skies in this venue, contrasting with other parts of Florida experiencing heavy rainfall.
