IPL 2021 – Virat Kohli to open for RCB in IPL 2021: After leading India in the T20 series against World No. 1 England, Virat Kohli’s has declared his plans for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). Kohli has declared that he will open for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) this IPL. Kohli opened India’s innings in the 5th and finals T20 of the series against England and smashed 80* off 52 balls and weaved 94 runs opening run stand with Rohit.
IPL 2021 – Virat Kohli to open for RCB in IPL 2021: Kohli declared he will open in IPL for RCB and also may continue opening with Rohit in the T20 internationals for India.
“Yes. I am going to open in the IPL as well,” Kohli told Star Sports at the presentation after India sealed a 36-run win to take the series 3-2. “Look, I’ve batted at different positions in the past, but I feel like we do have a very solid middle order now, and now it’s about your two best players getting the maximum number of balls in T20 cricket. So I would definitely like to partner Rohit at the top. As I rightly said, if we have a partnership and we both are set, then you know that one of us is going to cause some serious damage. That’s exactly what we want. And the other guys feel much more confident when one of us is still in and set, they know that they can play more freely. It augurs well for the team and I would like this to continue, and hopefully continue that form through to the World Cup.”
IPL 2021 – Virat Kohli to open for RCB in IPL 2021: Kohli’s partnership with Rohit Sharma at the top of the innings paid off spectacularly for India, with Sharma teeing off to smash 64 off 34, and Kohli playing anchor to bat through the innings and end up with 80* off 52 in a mammoth Indian total of 224 for 2. Kohli hopes to replicate that, while also revealing that India are likely to play a few more T20Is just before the World Cup.
“I just found out that we might have some more [games before the T20 World Cup], after the Test series against England,” Kohli said. “Yeah, more or less sorted [in terms of who will make the squad]. We are very very confident. Very happy with how things have panned out. We just want to keep moving forward with more positivity and fearlessness.”
Kohli’s opening partner and vice-captain Sharma, however, preferred to take a more pragmatic view of what the combination at the top would be, pointing out that the T20 World Cup was several months away, and things could change.
“It’s still a long time for the World Cup. Early days to talk about what the batting line up will be looking like,” Sharma said at the post-match press conference. “We’ll just have to analyse and think about what suits the team most. Today was, I guess, a tactical move because we wanted an extra bowler to play. We wanted to leave one batsman out, and unfortunately, it was KL, which was very tough.
“KL, we know, he has been one of our key players in the limited-overs format, especially in this format. But looking at the current form, the team management decided to go with the best XI. Having said that, it doesn’t send any signal that KL will not be considered or anything like that. This was just for one particular game.
“Things might change as and when we get closer to the World Cup. We do understand his ability, we do understand his contribution at the top, what he’s done for us. So I’m not going to rule out anything and neither am I going to say that this is the preferred batting line-up for the World Cup, because it’s still early days. We’ve got a good amount of time, there’s the IPL in between and I’m hearing there will be a few T20s as well before the World Cup.”
IPL 2021 – Virat Kohli to open for RCB in IPL 2021 – Kohli record as an opener in T20Is –
In 83 T20I innings excluding this match, Kohli has batted the most at No. 3 (57 times). As far as opening the batting in the shortest format at the highest level is concerned, tonight was eighth time for Kohli as a opener.
It is worth mentioning that Kohli’s number as a T20I opener is nowhere near the magic he has created at No. 3. In seven innings as an opener, Kohli has scored 198 runs at an average and strike rate of 28.28 and 146.66 respectively.
IPL 2021: Virat: ‘I am going to open in the IPL as well’
It is quite possible that we see Virat opening with Devdutt Padikkal for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. Padikkal had a memorable debut for the RCB side as the opener amassed 473 runs in 15 matches.
In the post-match interview, Kohli was full of praise for the team. “It was a complete game for us. Totally outplayed the opposition. Even with so much dew coming in, like last game we’ve defended the total again. Today was a complete game. I am going to open in the IPL as well. Have batted in different positions in the past. But I feel we have a solid middle-order now. Will definitely like to partner Rohit at the top.” said Kohli.
With Aaron Finch going unsold in the IPL 2021, it will be quite interesting for the RCB fans to see the Indian skipper open with Padikkal.
Editors pick
