Indian batting coach silences critics ahead of Bangladesh match – Firstpost

Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour has downplayed concerns over Virat Kohli’s form. The former India captain, who is playing as an opener in the 2024 T20 World Cup, has scored just 29 runs in four matches so far. In three group stage matches, Kohli scored just five runs.

In the first match of the Super 8 against Afghansitan, he seemed to have found his form, scoring 24 off 24 balls, but he got caught in the long run and failed to convert the start into a good result.

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With the semi-finals just around the corner, India will be keen to see Kohli return to form, with skipper Rohit Sharma also continuing to struggle. He scored just 76 goals in four games.

Rathour, however, is confident that Kohli will return to form soon. He also confirmed that Kohli will play for India in the Super 8 match against Bangladesh on Saturday.

“Of course we want him to score, but even if he didn’t, the others contributed, which is a good sign. But Virat remains at the top of the order and we know he will get a chance,” Rathour said on the eve of the India-Bangladesh match.

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Bangladesh also have some good spinners in their ranks like Rishad Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan. Leg-spinner Rishad is in excellent form, taking nine wickets in five matches, and Rathour believes the slow tracks at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua will be helpful for the Bangladesh team.

“It’s a good unit. They have a lot of guys who can spin the ball and are good in certain conditions. I think these conditions suit them a bit as a team because the wickets seem to be helping the spinners a bit and they have spinners in their team.

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“But again, in this format, I think every team is a difficult team. I don’t believe any competition in T20 cricket is an easy competition,” he said.