Virat Kohli Would Want To Score Runs When The Noise Is More - Aakash Chopra Expects Indian Captain To Play A Crucial Knock In The Run Chase
Published - 08 Aug 2021, 04:18 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:51 AM
Former India batsman Aakash Chopra felt Virat Kohli would be desperate to step up when he would be needed the most by the team during the run chase on Day 5 against England in the ongoing Test at Trent Bridge.
India are set a target of 209 by the hosts. Openers Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Cheteshwar Pujara knocked off 52 of those in the last hour on Day 4 for the loss of Rahul.
The onus is now on the batsmen to score the remaining 157 runs, in particular on the Indian captain who bagged a golden duck in the first innings. Aakash Chopra is expecting Kohli to play a crucial hand in the run chase which if completed would see India take a lead in the 5-match series.
“Virat Kohli is a world-class player. He scored a first-ball duck in the first innings but he would want to score runs when the noise is more. Expecting crucial runs from him in the second innings,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube video.
Aakash Chopra makes his predictions for Day 5
The 43-year-old commentator observed that the pitch has become better for batting on Day 4 and the demons of the first three days seemed to have settled down. Nonetheless, a chase on Day 5 is always tricky, and England have a world-class pace attack, however, Aakash Chopra believes Sam Curran might be rendered ineffective on the pitch which now has little to offer him.
About the winner of the game, the former opener said if India don’t lose more than two wickets in the first hour they will have the upper hand. Otherwise, if England take a bagful of wickets, the hosts could win it.
“Sam Curran won’t be effective on this pitch. Whenever he gets to bowl, he will not find assistance from the pitch as it has flattened out. If India loses one or a maximum of two wickets in the first 17-18 overs, the game will be done. But if they lose 4-5 wickets, the game will be done against India,” he concluded.
