T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli faces backlash as India continue to struggle – Team India are on the verge of a group stage exit from the T20 World Cup after their disappointing loss to New Zealand on Sunday. The Men in Blue are winless in both their games so far and will need other results to go their way if they have to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament. Amid the defeats, captain Virat Kohli has faced criticism from all corners, with former cricketers, BCCI and the fans unhappy with India’s show at the T20 World Cup.
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli faces three-front battle as group stage exit looms for stumbling India
Team India have suffered two defeats in two games and Virat Kohli has seen criticism come in from all corners during the T20 World Cup. The manner of defeats has particularly hurt, with India surrendering themselves to a 10-wicket loss against Pakistan, while New Zealand chased down India’s paltry score of 110 inside 15 overs.
Former India captain Kapil Dev was the latest to hit back at Virat Kohli, pointing out that he was taken aback by the Indian captain’s comments during his post-match press conference. Kohli said that his team “weren’t brave enough”, a comment which did not sit well with the 1983 World Cup-winning captain.
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Speaking on ABP news, Kapil Dev said, “For a big player like him, it is a very weak statement. If that is the kind of body language the team has and if that is kind of thought process the captain has, it is really tough to lift the team. I felt a little strange hearing those words. He isn’t that kind of a player.”
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli faces three-front battle as group stage exit looms for stumbling India
Kapil Dev’s comments come in after Sunil Gavaskar slammed Virat Kohli for tinkering with the batting order for the crucial game against New Zealand. Gavaskar put the changes down to “fear of failure” and claimed that it cost India dearly further piling on the pressure on Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli is set to leave his post as T20 captain at the end of the T20 World Cup and a group stage exit would be the last thing he or the BCCI would have envisaged. The Indian cricket board, who are hosts of the tournament, are unlikely to be pleased with the team’s show. BCCI added MS Dhoni to the staff to get the best of the unit but the move has backfired, with many pointing fingers at the board’s insistence at hosting the IPL as one of the reasons behind India’s dismal run.
T20 World Cup: Virat Kohli faces three-front battle as group stage exit looms for stumbling India
The fans meanwhile are hugely disappointed with the team’s performance, with Virat Kohli facing the brunt of it on social media. The Indian captain has been brutally trolled and abused on social media, with the fans expressing their frustration with the team’s performance.
India are now at the brink of an exit and Virat Kohli will hope that his fortunes favour him in the final three games of the T20 World Cup. Should the Men in Blue win all those games, qualification would still require other results to go their way with New Zealand and Afghanistan both better placed to finish second, while Pakistan continue to hold on to their top spot.
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