Published: Apr 09, 2019, 04:32 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 09, 2019, 04:32 PM (IST)
Virat Kohli has been going through a harrowing time in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2019) with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) losing all their six opening matches, which has also put Kohli’s leadership skills under the scanner.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar is not perturbed. “IPL performances cannot be the criteria to judge anyone. Virat is in excellent form. He is one of the great batsmen of all time and, as a captain, he is evolving. Once you put your faith in him, you must back him 100 per cent. He has done well in Tests and ODIs,” Vengsarkar was quoted as saying in the Times of India on Tuesday. (ALSO READ: RCB can’t afford to be dropping multiple catches every match: AB de Villiers)
India’s ICC World Cup 2019 squad will be announced on April 15 and the former national chief selector feels India can be counted as favourties only if their batsmen – other than Kohli and Rohit Sharma – come good.
“India have a chance to reach the last four. We have the best (bowling) attack so far. If we compare our attack to the previous teams at the World Cup, this is better than ever. That’s why we have hope. When India did badly, it was because of the last 10 overs where we were unable to contain the rival batsmen. Now, with Jasprit Bumrah and the others, it’s formidable,” said Vengsarkar.
“Virat is in great form. Rohit remains a class act. But you cannot depend on these two batsmen alone. The others must contribute too. If they get out early, there will be pressure on the others. They should be able to sustain the pressure.” (ALSO READ: If India are smart, they rest Virat Kohli now for the World Cup: Michael Vaughan)
Vengsarkar, was the first to score three hundreds against England at Lord’s, weighed in on the contentious No. 4 spot.
“There are a lot of them who are good enough. KL Rahul or Ajinkya Rahane are good, then there is Mayank Agarwal who did so well in Australia. I am surprised that he is not around. These three could be good choices but don’t judge anyone based on what they do in the IPL,” he said.
