‘Slog Sweep Will Come Out…’: Irfan Pathan Backs Virat Kohli Ahead of Super 8 Clash Against Afghanistan
New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s T20 world Cup 2024 campaign as an opener has not gone as planned. The tacky pitch of Nassau County didn’t give any chance to Virat for settling down as the batter failed to play even more than 10 balls in his three outings as he started with a 1 against Ireland and followed it up with back-to-back single-digit scores- 4 and a duck. In all the three innings Virat threw his wicket in the quest to break the shackles in the powerplay.
Despite his recent failures in the group stage, there is nothing to doubt about his place in the playing XI, considering his records and experience, when things get tough he is the one who can win the matches for his team single handedly.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has backed Virat Kohli, as he feels that the modern day batting legend will step up in the big matches in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.
“He knows how to stand up in big matches, isn’t it? That’s what makes him really, really special. He’s a special player and I’m sure he’s going to put his hand up and say OK, I’m going to do this for Team India and when the time comes, especially the big matches, we always have seen from Virat Kohli that he performs,” Pathan said on Star Sports.
Kohli was in outstanding form ahead of the T20 World Cup and finished IPL 2024 season as the highest run getter in the tournament by scoring 741 runs. The star batter modified his T20 game and played an attacking brand of cricket by adding Slog Sweep into his arsenal.
However the batter failed to carry forward his batting form in the group stage of the T20 World Cup.
Pathan also said that the pitch conditions in New York restricted Virat Kohli from playing his shots freely, but that won’t be the case on the Caribbean soil.
“Just wait and watch, the slog sweep will come out now. He will definitely use those shots because, look, those conditions in New York. But now things will be different and you’ll see a real Virat Kohli coming to the fore.”