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Team India skipper Virat Kohli has backed senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to come good at T20 World Cup. Bhuvneshwar had a disappointing season with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the recently concluded IPL 2021. In the second half of the tournament, the pacer managed to take just three wickets in six games at an average of 54 and an economy rate of 7.04. However, Kohli believes Bhuvneshwar will come good for India at the T20 World Cup.
Speaking at the ICC captain's press conference ahead of the T20 World Cup, Kohli lauded Bhuvneshwar's economy rate and opined that Bhuvi's vast experience will help the Indian team under pressure. Kohli said, "No, not at all [concerned]. His economy rates still continue to be top-notch, something that he’s always been known for and his experience comes to the fore under pressure. If you see the game that we [Royal Challengers] played against Sunrisers, the last game, where he had to close out the game against AB de Villiers, probably one of the two or three most destructive lower-order finishers in the T20 game."
“It explained or spoke volumes of what experience Bhuvi brings on the field, whenever we play – just the understanding of hitting the areas, according to the dimensions of the field, and what balls to bowl at what time. Even the fact that he bowls lengths so well and so consistently, which is not an easy thing to get away with in T20 cricket, especially with the new ball. It’s quite an underrated thing and I think his experience and accuracy have always been priceless for the team,” Kohli concluded.
We decided to back Rahul Chahar for a reason: Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli also broke silence on why Rahul Chahar got a nod ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal in the Indian T20 WC squad. He said, "It was a difficult and challenging call. We decided to back Rahul Chahar for a reason, he is a guy who bowls with pace." Kohli added that wickets in UAE will be slow down and guys who bowl with pace would do better.