Virat Kohli Signaling Indian Selectors By Deciding To Open In IPL 2021: Joy Bhattacharya

Following Virat Kohli’s imperious knock of 80, while opening in the fifth T20I against England, he revealed that he would bat at the top in IPL 2021 too. The Indian captain, perhaps, displayed his best batting form in the decider as he top-scored to lift the men in blue to 224 and guide India to a 36-run win. Veteran cricket pundit Joy Bhattacharya believes that by announcing his desire to open in IPL, Kohli sent a signal to the Indian selectors of him willing to open in the T20 World Cup too.

With KL Rahul struggling for form, Virat Kohli decided to promote himself up the order as India needed the much-required impetus from the top. Kohli and Rohit Sharma did precisely that as they notched up a 94-run opening stand. After Rohit’s departure, Kohli shared two more vital partnerships to finish at 80 off 52 balls, consisting of seven fours and two sixes.

It was the eighth time that he opened for India in the T20s. Virat Kohli has also opened for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 61 out of the 184 innings in IPL. In fact, the right-handed batsman averages the most while opening as it stands at 47.86 with 2345 runs with a strike rate of 140.17 alongside five centuries. Thus, Kohli returning to that position in IPL 2021 is indeed a mouthwatering prospect.

Virat Kohli loves his India colours more than anything: Joy Bhattacharya

Joy Bhattacharya pointed out Virat Kohli undoubtedly loves RCB; however, he adores the national team more than anything. Bhattacharya conceded that by deciding to open in IPL, he sent a message to the Indian selectors about wanting to do the same in the T20 World Cup. Hence, Kohli wants to open and wishes the selectors to know that it is where he is making a stand and requests to consider it.

“Virat loves his RCB[Royal Challenegers Bangalore] but he loves his India colors more than anything else and who would blame him for that. If he’s deciding to open throughout the IPL, that’s clearly also sending a message to the selectors saying that’s the position I want to play in the World Cup. Because he’s not going to play the entire IPL opening just to go back to No. 3 necessarily. He’s also saying ‘this is my position, this is where I am trying to make a stand, guys think of me in that position,” Bhattacharya told Cricbuzz.

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