T20 World Cup 2022: Virat Kohli will remain a threat to the opposition – Saba Karim

Former Indian selector Saba Karim feels Virat Kohli will remain a threat to the opposition if he continues to play in a similar fashion. Kohli recently returned to form in the Asia Cup as he scored a blistering knock of 122 runs off just 61 balls against Afghanistan in the team’s last match of the tournament.

Kohli is currently the highest run-getter in the Asia Cup 2022 as he has scored 273 runs in five innings at an average of 92 and a strike rate of 147.59.

Karim believes India needs a batter who can bat according to the match situation and the other batters can bat around him. Kohli has been playing this role with great success for the national team and his return to form was the biggest positive for the Rohit Sharma-led team.

The talisman looked at his previous best as he timed the ball to perfection and played at the top of his game to deliver the goods for the team. Kohli also scored a fine knock of 60 runs in the Super Four contest against Pakistan but his efforts had gone in vain.

Saba Karim said on India News Sports, “Virat Kohli has the ability to up the ante even if he plays run-a-ball for the first few deliveries. So this is the right template for Team India where others bat around him and go for the big shots. You need a batter who adapts to the situation and controls the innings and among all the batters they have, Kohli is the most experienced in playing this way.”

Karim added that it will be crucial for the team management to preserve players like Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Rohit Sharma before the T20 World Cup.

“We need to understand that we played good cricket before the Asia Cup with the current template and if we rectify a couple of mistakes that we made, we are good to go. No matter where he bats in the top order, Kohli will remain a threat to the opposition. So it is important for the management to preserve players like he, Rohit, and Hardik so that they give their best in the T20 World Cup.”

On the other hand, Kohli recently made a return to International cricket after a one-month break. Former Indian all-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi added Kohli wouldn’t want any break now before the all-important T20 World Cup.

He said, “I don’t think Virat Kohli will want a break because now he is in good form and would like to extend that against Australia. He is back among the runs and his feet are moving well so he would want to reach peak form by the time T20 World Cup begins.”

India will take on Australia in three-match T20I series at home.