There isn’t a better sight in cricket than Virat Kohli in full swing. The Indian fans have got plenty of it during the ICC World Cup 2023, with Kohli emerging as the highest run-scorer in the tournament after the group stages, scoring 594 runs in nine matches, at a staggering average of 99.00. In the process, he has also scored two centuries and five fifties.
But now that the league games are over, the pressure of the Ind vs NZ semis for the team will be manyfold, from what it was during their previous encounter in the World Cup, where India won by four wickets. Similarly, the pressure of scoring mountains of runs will be higher on Virat Kohli, in the upcoming semis.
Though, there is no iota of doubt that Kohli is the greatest ever modern-day batsman, but has struggled when it comes to the semis of the 50-over World Cups, and the left-arm fast bowlers. Mind you, the New Zealand attack has Trent Boult in their ranks, who could trouble the Indian great.
Kohli vs Left-arm Pacers in WCs
Back in the 2011 World Cup, in the semi-final, left-arm bowler Wahab Riaz had dismissed Kohli for only 9. The ball was pitched on the middle stump and moved away from Kohli. While trying to flick, the batsman edged it to the point fielder Umar Akmal.
Then in the 2015 World Cup, in the semi-final clash against Australia, Kohli was dismissed by left-arm great Mitchell Johnson for 1. While facing a short delivery, he went to pull the ball, but top-edged it, and keeper Brad Haddin took a simple catch. Whereas in the 2019 edition, in the semis against New Zealand, Kohli could not handle Trent Boult.
The bowler moved a few balls away, and then brought back one sharply, as Kohli shuffled. That was enough to trap him plumb, in front of the wickets.
Chance for Redemption @World Cup 2023
But given the form Kohli has shown in the current WC, he is more than equipped to handle Boult and his swing. In the Ind vs Nz match in group stages he tackled Boult well and eventually scored 95. He had decent results against Mitchell Starc of Australia, Shoriful Islam of Bangladesh, and Marco Jansen of South Africa, where he scored 101.
Editor's Pick
Top Stories
