Former India captain Virat Kohli is awaiting an international century since 2019. In the recent ODI series against the West Indies he managed just 26 runs in three games. However, India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour is confident that the former skipper will bounce back soon. “He [Kohli] is batting really well in the nets. We are really happy with the kind of preparation he has been putting in. I am certain that in one of these innings [in the upcoming T20I series] he will bat well and score big runs,” Rathour said during a virtual press conference ahead of the team’s practice in Kolkata on Monday. After whitewashing WI 3-0 in the ODIs in Ahmedabad last week, Rohit Sharma & Co will lock horns with the Caribbeans in three T20Is, starting in Kolkata tomorrow.
Last ODI ton in 2019
Kohli, 33, who has 43 ODI centuries from 260 ODIs, got his last three-figure mark (114 not out) in an ODI against West Indies in 2019 at Port of Spain. He has played 21 ODIs since and has seven single-digit scores. Kohli’s best in T20Is (94 not out) came against the Windies at Hyderabad in 2019. Rathour however, insisted that Kohli’s form is not a concern. “I don’t think he [Kohli] is going through a lean phase.
Vikram Rathour
I mean, at least in this format, T20Is and ODIs, he’s done really well. I understand he had a relatively poor [ODI] series against the WI so far,” said Rathour, adding that Team India have begun their preparation for the next ICC T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in October-November later this year.
‘Focus on T20 World Cup’
“The focus is on the T20 World Cup in Australia. Unfortunately, a few people are missing out now due to injuries. Till everyone is available, it is difficult to identify roles, but we have started our preparation. All our batters are capable of doing well in those [Australian] conditions,” he said.
Rathour particularly lavished praise on two bowling all-rounders—Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar—for their contribution with the willow. “Both [Thakur and Chahar] are batting well. Both work really hard on their batting. They have been working and practising hard on their batting for quite some time now and you can see the result. It’s good to have two all-rounders. That gives us a lot of flexibility in what kind of team we want to play with. It’s good to see competition in the team.” Rathour added.
