IPL 2020: Ashish Nehra Suggests Virat Kohli Should Open For Royal Challengers Bangalore

Former India pacer, Ashish Nehra believes that Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli should open in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad if Aaron Finch is not in the eleven.

RCB finished fourth in the points table after SRH defeated Mumbai Indians on Tuesday and eliminated Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite having equal points, KKR fell behind RCB and SRH on the net run rate.

Bangalore lost their last league game against Delhi Capitals. However, a defeat by a close margin ensured that RCB remain ahead of KKR on net run rate.

If you don’t want to play Aaron Finch, then I feel Kohli should come as the opening batsman: Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra opined that Kohli was under a lot of pressure against Delhi. He said that it was never going to be easy scoring runs off smart spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel on a wicket that was holding up. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that the DC bowlers should also be given credit for keeping Kohli down.

Kohli scored 29 from 24 balls at a strike rate of 120. RCB managed a mediocre total of 152 in 20 overs, which was chased down rather comfortably by DC courtesy of half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane.

During his stint in the commentary box for Star Sports, Ashish Nehra said, “There was a lot of pressure on Virat Kohli, considering the conditions. It was not easy to hit Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, who does not go for wickets that much but does not allow you to score runs easily. You need to appreciate the Delhi Capitals for not giving any chance to the RCB captain”

The ex-RCB bowling coach feels that captain Kohli should open the inning if Aaron Finch is not included in the eleven for the playoffs.  Kohli has face criticism for his cautious approach in the middle-overs, which in turn puts the team on the backfoot as the right-hander, on most occasions, has got out trying to up the ante after setting his eye in.

Kohli’s number as an opener backs Nehra’s claim. Opening the batting, Kohli has a strike of 140 and an average of 48 to go with five hundreds in the IPL. This season, Kohli has scored 460 runs in 14 matches, at a surprising strike rate of 122.

“But in the upcoming encounters if you don’t want to play Aaron Finch, then I feel Kohli should come as the opening batsman in this team,” Nehra added.

Bangalore qualified for the playoffs, but are on a four-match losing streak. On Friday in Abu Dhabi, they will face the in-form Hyderabad, who defeated the table-toppers by 10 wickets.

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