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Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)
According to former England captain Nasser Hussain, Virat Kohli has excelled in run-chases due to his ability to adapt to the situation. Kohli's 48th ODI century led India to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh at the MCA Stadium in Pune. In an interview with Star Sports, Hussain praised Kohli for his brilliance in chasing targets, emphasizing his efficient approach without wasting deliveries. Kohli's remarkable performance saw him scoring 103 runs off 97 balls, featuring six boundaries and four sixes in Pune.
The 55-year-old further expressed that Kohli possesses a remarkable record against Bangladesh, particularly excelling in the pull shot. A graphic was even presented at one point, showcasing his exceptional average of 400 in the pull shot over the last couple of years. While Kohli eventually got out of that shot, he had already inflicted significant damage. The commentator emphasized his admiration for Kohli's intent, noting a genuine intent in his gameplay. He recalled a period when the Indian team had played somewhat timid cricket during the T20 World Cup in Australia, culminating in their loss to England in the semi-final at Adelaide.
“Kohli always plays the situation and that’s why he is brilliant in run chases. He sees the situation out there in front of him, he won’t be much off the strike rate anyway because he never takes up deliveries or chews up deliveries. On a pitch like this if you wanted to go into another gear, if he was chasing 350, Kohli would’ve gone into another gear, but he was just making sure India got over the line as he often does,” said Hussain.
His record is up there with the best: Rohit
Nasser Hussain also emphasized that Rohit Sharma's performance in white-ball cricket is among the best, highlighting that India's top three batsmen are exerting immense pressure on opposition bowlers. India has notched four consecutive victories in the ongoing ODI Cricket World Cup and currently holds the second position in the points table.
“I have thought for a long time, he's one of the best white ball batters there has ever been. His record is up there with the best, he's done it in World Cups. The way Rohit, Shubman and Virat are playing are going to put a lot of top-order bowlers under pressure,” Hussain added.