Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh recently stirred the pot by taking a dig at Babar Azam, suggesting that Virat Kohli is not worried about personal stats or reclaiming the top spot in T20I batting charts. Instead, Harbhajan believes Kohli’s focus is on scoring runs in the T20 World Cup 2024 group stage, not on being the leading run-scorer.
Babar Azam recently surpassed Kohli’s record for most runs in men’s T20Is, leading with 4,113 runs. Kohli trails by 71 runs and has struggled in the World Cup so far, scoring only five runs in three matches.
Harbhajan’s Perspective
Speaking to Star Sports, Harbhajan Singh commented, “I am not sure if he is checking all these records that Babar [Azam] has gone ahead of him. But one thing is sure: he must be itching to get big runs under his belt before he gets to the next round which will be played in the Caribbean.”
Harbhajan pointed out that Kohli will likely benefit from better pitches in the Caribbean.
“Virat Kohli, obviously, must be thinking about how to get runs under his belt. Knowing the champion that he is, he will be doing all the hard work to get those runs for India. He will just focus on the first 10 balls. If he bats for 10 balls, then we know what Virat Kohli can do,” Harbhajan added.
Balaji’s Support
Former fast bowler Laxmipathy Balaji also weighed in, saying Kohli remains as hungry as ever and has nothing to prove. According to Balaji, Kohli’s main challenge is internal, and despite a slow start on difficult pitches, he remains a modern-day great.
“I don’t think he needs to prove anything to anybody. He must be thinking about the battle that he probably is having with himself. Virat is a modern-day great,” Balaji said.
“He will be wanting to make a mark on this platform. Yes, Virat hasn’t gotten off to a great start, but run-scoring has been difficult on this pitch.”
Despite recent struggles, Kohli averages 50 in T20I cricket, having played 119 matches in the shortest format. In comparison, Babar averages 40 in 121 international T20I matches.
As the T20 World Cup 2024 continues, all eyes will be on Kohli to see if he can overcome his slow start and deliver the big runs that India needs. With better pitches in the Caribbean and his unwavering determination, there’s no doubt that Kohli will be looking to make a significant impact.
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