The current Indian cricket team is facing severe criticism as it lost the 5-match T20I series against West Indies by 2-3 and with this, it has become the first Indian team to lose a bilateral series against West Indies in the last 17 years.
The Indian squad has played 13 T20Is after its disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup last year but neither Rohit Sharma nor Virat Kohli featured in any of the matches. Though the cricketers or the BCCI didn’t make any statement in this concern, it is being said that selectors have made up their minds in regard to giving chances to only youngsters in the shortest format.
However, the former Indian cricketer and the former coach of the Indian cricket team, Sanjay Bangar feels that Virat Kohli should be a part of India’s playing XI which will play the next T20 World Cup.
While speaking on a YouTube channel, Sanjay Bangar stated, “100 percent. Just look at what he did in the previous World Cup. Those close matches – there were some edge-of-the-seat encounters where emotions run high and you know that this is a big-stage game where the eyes of the nation are glued on you. One small mistake can make a difference. That’s where you need players who have gone through those situations. At that point, it doesn’t really matter what your strike-rate is or how you’ve done in the IPL. No, in a big game, you require big match players and he showed it.”
In order to strengthen his case, Sanjay Bangar further said, “Recall the India vs Pakistan game. Even for that matter, the quarterfinal between India and Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup. He has been doing it consistently. Everyone has their own style of making runs, and it’s not mandatory to have six-hitters to win matches. Had it been the case, West Indies would have won all T20 World Cups. Kohli is a player who can smash a 100 without even hitting a six. If you don’t have players who can soak in pressure, then you are asking for trouble.”
Sanjay Bangar certainly makes a point, what do you say?
