Virat Kohli Is Going To Bat At The Top Of The Order, It's A Position He Knows Well: Mike Hesson

Former New Zealand head coach and the current director of cricket at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mike Hesson, is excited to watch an in-form Virat Kohli bat at the top of the order in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League [IPL].

Virat Kohli had said that he would be opening the innings in IPL 2021 following his match-winning innings of 80* in the series-decider where he promoted himself at the top of the order alongside Rohit Sharma.

Hesson, during a virtual press-conference, confirmed the same, stating that Virat will partner rookie opener Devdutt  Padikkal at the top of the order.

Skipper Virat Kohli will join the Royal Challengers Bangalore set-up on April 01, post which he will undergo a mandatory one-week quarantine before he kickstarts his preparations ahead of the season opener against defending champions Mumbai Indians at Chepauk on April 09.

“Look for me, form is important. More importantly, it’s about the confidence that they bring in. Some players need performance to get that confidence. Some don’t. Virat is so experienced with RCB. He is going to bat at the top of the order. It’s a position that he knows well,” Mike Hesson told reporters during the virtual meet.

Virat Kohli will come into the IPL on the back of some pretty good form. The RCB skipper was in whirlwind form in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series against England where he smashed as many as 231 runs at an average of 115.50 and a strike-rate of 147.13 with three 50+ scores.

And, Hesson is pretty confident that the champion batsman will carry that form and tempo for RCB in the IPL.

”He is in fine touch at the moment. His tempo is really pleasing. I thought the way he played against England in T20Is just showed that his tempo is really good and he can control the innings. That’s something that we have seen, on his day when he does that for RCB, we know we are going to get an above-par score,” he said.

“I know Virat will turn up confident. He is hugely passionate about playing for RCB. Can’t wait to have him onboard,” Hesson said.

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