‘He must bat the way he’s batted in past decade’ – Nasser Hussain backs Kohli to come good in T20 WC Final

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has backed India great Virat Kohli to break the deadlock and come good with the bat on the big day as India and South Africa gear up for the T20 World Cup Final in Barbados on Saturday (June 29). Having scored just 75 runs in seven matches while opening the batting in this edition. Kohli has struggled big time, getting out to single digits on several occasions. With all eyes on Team India and their batting mainstay, Hussain feels Kohli will up his game against the Proteas.

Recalling how the batting veteran weathered the storm against Pakistan at the MCG the last time, Hussain said players like Kohli come good on the days when it matters the most, and what’s better than doing it in the T20 WC final?

"I mean, you go back to the game against Pakistan at the MCG, India were floundering. Who was there at the end? Smashing. That's the biggest game of all time for the Indians. India, Pakistan, you know. So, he is always there in big matches," Nasser Hussain said during a chat on Sky Sports.

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Squashing the idea of Kohli changing his style of play, which hasn’t helped him nor the team in any way in this tournament, Hussain feels Virat must continue to bat like he’s batted for over a decade, in a very Virat Kohli style, instead trying to become someone whom he’s not. Hussain added Kohli has all the shots in his book, and despite a healthy strike rate of around 138, he can stick around and act as a glue.

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“I personally and others will disagree because you want to set the tone throughout the team. I personally think Virat Kohli should bat like he's batted over the last decade. He's got a strike rate of 138.

“He can be the glue, the rot, you know, they all bat around, and they all come in playing their shots. You cannot doubt Kohli as a player. You cannot doubt him in a big match. He has suffered because of that New York pitch because he had a brilliant IPL,” Hussain continued.

Hussain tells what led to Kohli’s dip in form

Virat entered the tournament on the back of yet another fantastic IPL season; however, playing on tricky New York pitches earlier in the T20 World Cup broke his rhythm, something he hasn't overcomeyet.

"He was fantastic in that. So, he came into the tournament in form. But he has suffered because of that New York pitch. Since then, every bit of footage from the Indian camp has been practising in the nets, with Raul Dravid trying to get the rhythm of batting. He is a rhythm player.

"He's not like Hardik Pandya, who is a power player. You just go out and power here. Virat Kohli needs time in the middle rhythm. He bats for 3–4 overs and gets that rhythm. That timing comes back and, at the end, under pressure. Who will India want at the end? In a big game, they will want Kohli," Hussain noted.

(With inputs from agencies)