“For the sake of India…”: Anil Kumble’s humble appeal to Virat Kohli on T20 World Cup 2024 cricket news

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble praised Virat Kohli and expressed hope that the star Indian batsman will continue his excellent IPL form in the T20 World Cup as well. Kohli’s brilliant inning of 92 off 47 balls followed by a collective bowling effort helped RCB register a 60-run win over PBKS, their fifth win in IPL 2024 after losing six consecutive games. Batting first, Bengaluru scored 241/7 and then bowled out Punjab for 181 runs to achieve their fourth consecutive win. Kohli hit seven fours and six sixes in his maiden innings at a strike-rate of 195.74, which also took him past the 600-run mark in IPL 2024.

“He has been in great form. He got a break in this IPL and since then, he has been in constant pursuit of excellence. You can see it. He is on top of the scoring table with 634 runs, and I am sure For RCB, you would like them to win the next two matches and hopefully qualify, but for India, you would like their form to continue into the World Cup as well,” Kumble told GeoCinema.

Kumble also praised Rajat Patidar, who scored 55, his fourth half-century of the season, and supported Kohli after an early collapse by adding 76 runs from 32 balls for a third-wicket partnership.

Patidar stepped up the attack against the spinners by hitting three sixes in Rahul Chahar’s first over and got another lease of life when Jonny Bairstow was late in reacting to the catch. He brought up his half-century in 21 balls when he pulled Sam Curran over short fine leg for six before being caught by the left-arm pacer to the keeper.

“He is an international player now. It was important for RCB that the middle order was successful because it was Virat Kohli alone and then, Faf du Plessis came in and scored a few runs at the top of the innings in the powerplay. They needed someone solid.

Patidar has been really solid for them. That strike rate, coming in and taking the game to the opposition, we have seen him come in the last three or four games. “He has been performing exceptionally well and I think his partnership with Virat Kohli gave him the impetus and the platform to finish on 240,” Kumble said.

Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson was impressed by Kohli’s all-round efforts and helping other batsmen score around him. Kohli produced a brilliant runout with a straight hit from deep midwicket to dismiss the dangerous looking Shashank Singh, who departed after suffering a shoulder injury on 37 off 19 balls.

RCB made a brilliant start in their defense and Swapnil Singh trapped Prabhsimran Singh LBW on the fourth ball. Bairstow hit four fours and a six in his 27 runs in 16 balls before becoming the victim of Lockie Ferguson on the second last ball of the powerplay. Rossouw kept PBKS in the race by hitting boundaries at will to bring up his first half-century of the competition, which he achieved by hitting a six over the head of Green.

After receiving some attention from the physio due to the injury, Rossouw bowled the ball at long off against Karn Sharma, who dismissed Jitesh Sharma.

“RCB were excellent. They got some chances early because Virat Kohli was out twice. That allowed them to get on with their innings and they batted beautifully after taking those chances. Strikes above 190 “92 runs at that rate is very impressive. Everyone around him was also able to contribute, Rajat Patidar was exceptional, he scored 55 runs with six big sixes,” Watson said.

“Cameron Green has also done well. Everyone lent their hand when needed. With the ball, they were clinical. In the field, they made some small mistakes, but you could see the intensity increase when they needed it.” “Some brilliant catches and brilliant run-outs by Virat Kohli to dismiss Shashank,” he concluded.

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