'Virat Kohli is not out-of-form' - Aakash Chopra's surprising verdict on batter's awful run in T20 World Cup 2024

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has opened up about star batter Virat Kohli's poor form with the bat in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Aakash Chopra stated that Virat Kohli is in good form despite not scoring many runs in India's first three matches in the prestigious T20 tournament.

Virat Kohli was dismissed for a first-ball duck in India's seven-wicket victory at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday, June 12. The ace batter was dismissed by left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar on the second ball of the first over, leaving India in a challenging situation at 1/1.

Middle-order batters Suryakumar Yadav (50 runs off 49 balls) and Shivam Dube (31 off 35 balls) rescued the team from an early collapse in the run chase. The Men in Blue chased down the 111-run target with 10 deliveries to spare. The Rohit Sharma-led team secured a berth in the Super 8 stages of the tournament.

This Match Too That I Am Not Worried - Aakash Chopra

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra pointed out that Kohli has been dismissed by deliveries outside off-stump in all three matches.

"In the run chase, Virat Kohli got out in the first over itself. It's been three matches and Virat has been dismissed off deliveries outside off-stump all three times - once in the deep off Mark Adair's bowling, once at point off Naseem Shah's bowling, and Saurabh Netravalkar here," Chopra said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator stated that he isn't worried despite Virat Kohli's lack of runs in the first three games. Chopra emphasized that Kohli is not out of form but hasn't scored runs yet. He remains confident that Kohli will soon start performing well.

"You think whether everything is right. I was saying before the last match as well and I am saying after this match too that I am not worried. I am bullish that Virat Kohli will score runs as he is not out of form, he is just out of runs right now," Chopra added.

Virat Kohli has scored only five runs across three innings at a disappointing average of 1.67 and a strike rate of 55.56 in the current T20 World Cup. The 35-year-old cricketer was dismissed for one run against Ireland and four runs against Pakistan.

Virat Kohli Will Score Runs There - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra highlighted that Virat Kohli was in excellent form during IPL 2024. Chopra expressed confidence that Kohli will regain his scoring touch in India's next game against Canada in Florida, stating that the change in venue might help him return to form.

"He went there with the form of more than 700 runs. His bat hasn't struck the ball that well here, runs haven't come from the bat, but the story has ended here. Now they will be going to Lauderhill, which means when the match happens in Florida, we will be alright there. I feel Virat Kohli will score runs there," Chopra further added.

The Rohit Sharma-led team will lock horns with Canada in their final group stage match at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida, on Saturday, June 15.

Also read: Ravindra Jadeja's confidence shattered; to be dropped from India's playing 11 for the remaining games of T20 World Cup 2024?