Virat Kohli told to tone down if he wants to be successful in the T20 World Cup 2024

Former England captain Michael Vaughan wants Virat Kohli to go back to his traditional style of batting rather than trying to score aggressively. Kohli has had a disappointing tournament so far with scores of 1, 4, and 0 in the three games he has played.

The bowling-friendly pitches in New York also had a big role to play in his diminishing returns but Virat Kohli has been dismissed while trying to score runs quickly. With the remaining matches of the T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the West Indies, the pitches are likely to be better for batting.

Michael Vaughan wants Virat Kohli to play low-risk cricket

During a chat with Cricbuzz, Michael Vaughan emphasized the need to play low-risk cricket on bowling-friendly pitches. The former England batter believes that Kohli has found it difficult to adjust to the batter-friendly pitches in the IPL.

"He has come on the back of an incredible IPL. A lot of these players played in the IPL where scores were 200 plus, pitches were flat, and boundaries quite small. Boundaries were coming pretty much at will for all these players."

"They have now gone to work where the pitches are doing a little bit more. I think the strike rate has been 180 plus that these players have been so used to. Now they have to assess the conditions and realize that 160 score is going to be very competitive," Vaughan said.

Michael Vaughan urges Virat Kohli to return to his old style

Vaughan also mentioned that there are lots of changes in the T20 World Cup as there is no impact sub-rule and the pitches have been assisting the bowlers. He felt that Kohli's old style of play would be beneficial on such pitches.

"I think we all thought with this World Cup that this T20 juggernaut has just moved on and the players have gone to a different level. I think the impact sub also plays a big part in the IPL as there is no impact sub in the World Cup. The pitches are doing a little bit more, so it's about bringing that old Virat-style player," the 49-year-old opined.

"Virat of the old used to just bat and play and strike at 130. I would say that kind of play is going to be valuable if the pitches are going to continue to do things. If we go to the Caribbean where the pitches are flatter and 220 becomes a par score, of course, you have to strike at 180," he added.

'If you can be the glue...' - Michael Vaughan on Virat Kohli's role in India's batting line-up

The former England batter urged Kohli to be the glue of India's batting which will allow the other batters to bat around him.

"If you can be the glue, the scores are going to be 150-160. If Virat is the glue, India are always going to get that number. Virat has to work out what is right on the given day. If I were in the India team, I'd be whispering Virat and just say 'Just go back in the gears a little bit' because if you can bat 15 overs, and Suryakumar (Yadav), Rohit (Sharma), Rishabh (Pant) just bat around you, India are always going to get a competitive score," Vaughan concluded.

Virat Kohli will be expected to regain his form as he is one of the key players in the Indian team. In a crucial stage of the tournament, India wants its talismanic batter to be back amongst the runs.