Virat Kohli Will Have Some Fun Over The Next Few Months Opening The Batting - Michael Vaughan

Former England captain, Michael Vaughan opines that the Royal Challengers Bangalore have beefed up by Virat Kohli’s decision to open the batting in the upcoming 14th edition of the IPL.

Kohli replaced KL Rahul as the opener in the fifth T20I against England. He and Rohit Sharma put on a 94-run stand in 9 overs; Kohli remained batted through the innings and remained unbeaten on 80 to take India to a gigantic total of 224.

After the game, the skipper confirmed that he will open for his IPL franchise as well. Kohli also said that he is looking to continue to bat at the top for Team India also in view of the T20 World Cup.

“I am going to open in the IPL as well. I have batted in different positions in the past. But I feel we do have a solid middle-order now. And now it’s about our two best players getting the maximum number of overs in T20I cricket,” Virat Kohli said on Saturday.

“I would definitely like to partner Rohit at the top. As I rightly said, if we have a partnership and both are set, one of us will do the damage and the other guys feel a lot more confident when one of us is still in and is set and know they can play more freely. It augurs well for the team. Hopefully, it will continue and we continue the form into the World Cup,” the 32-year-old skipper added.

He will be so consistent on those wickets: Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan believes that Kohli will do wonders in the IPL 2021 with the bat while coming out to open. He points out that the Indian pitches are absolute batting beauties, especially for openers, where once they see off the new ball – which nowadays doesn’t move much – then they can cash in big.

Virat Kohli as an opener has been surreal in the IPL. In 61 innings he has scored 2345 runs at an average of 47.86 – all of his 5 IPL hundreds have come while opening. Kohli will be seen marching in alongside young sensation Devdutt Padikkal in IPL 2021 in the hunt for RCB’s maiden IPL title. RCB begin its campaign in the opening game of the season against defending champions, Mumbai Indians on April 9th in Chennai.

“He [Virat Kohli] could bat anywhere but I think they [Team India and RCB] have found something. I think the RCB will be a lot stronger by having Virat Kohli at the top of the order,” Michael Vaughan told Cricbuzz.

“He will be so consistent on those wickets. If you ask any batsman that’s worth any kind of salt ‘Where would you like to bat in India?’, and you’ll get ‘I’ll open the batting please’. I think he will have some fun over the next few months opening the batting. We are going to see some fine innings,” the former England captain predicted.

Also Read: Hardik Pandya Should Be Promoted In The Batting Order All The Time Like India Did In The 5th T20I: Aakash Chopra