Virat Kohli’s batting woes at the T20 World Cup extended into the crucial semi-final against England on Thursday. The Indian star batsman was dismissed for a mere nine runs, marking his fifth single-digit score of the tournament. However, according to former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, the blame for Kohli’s underwhelming performance might lie more with the pitch than with the player himself.
Latif Points to Difficult Pitch Conditions
Following Kohli’s dismissal, Latif, appearing on the show Caught Behind, highlighted the challenging batting surface in Guyana. “Virat Kohli went out of his plan,” Latif said. “This is not a Bengaluru pitch, this is a different one. Hitting the ball is not easy on this surface.” He further emphasized the difficulty for the entire batting lineup, pointing out that India could only manage a total of 171 runs for 7 wickets.
While Kohli fell cheaply, his opening partner and captain Rohit Sharma displayed remarkable resilience. Coming off a brilliant 92 against Australia, Sharma anchored the innings yet again with a well-paced 57 off 39 balls. Latif lauded Sharma’s knock, acknowledging the additional challenges posed by rain interruptions.
“It was tough for Rohit Sharma as he lost the toss and had to come out to bat,” Latif explained. “Virat Kohli was dismissed and rain interrupted the game. That period is very bad. Waiting for umpires, seeing super soppers in action and then come out to bat again,” he elaborated on the difficulties faced by Sharma.
India Marches On Despite Kohli’s Low Score
Despite Kohli’s early dismissal, India put up a strong total on the board. Their bowlers then dominated the chase, restricting England to a paltry 103 runs and securing a convincing 68-run victory. With this win, India booked their place in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, which will be played in Barbados on Saturday.
While Latif believes the pitch played a significant role in Kohli’s struggles, the batsman’s overall performance at the World Cup remains a cause for concern. Whether Kohli can overcome his batting slump and contribute significantly in the final against South Africa is a question that cricket fans around the world will be eagerly waiting to see answered.
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