India vs Australia: ‘If Kohli gets out and Pandya stays, India have a higher chance of winning’ says Ashish Nehra

India vs Australia: ‘If Kohli gets out and Pandya stays, India have a higher chance of winning’ says Ashish Nehra

(From Left) Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya

(From Left) Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya

Indian skipper Virat Kohli failed to finish off the game for India during the last T20I match against Australia. Chasing 187 to win, Kohli emerged as the leading run-scorer for his side with a well-set knock of 85. However, he could not keep up with the rising required rate as the ‘Men in Blue’ fell short by 12 runs. 

Former Indian speedster Ashish Nehra reckoned that Virat Kohli would be disappointed with the result after the game. Nehra stated that Kohli was quick to get off the blocks, but failed to match the asking rate in the middle-overs.

“The way Kohli started – 23 off 20, but when you’re set, in the middle overs as well he scored some 20 off 20 or 23 off 20. When he reached his 50, he had played 41 balls. After that, he scored 35 runs off the next 19. But from overs 7 to 15, when Dhawan and Samson got out, it all came down to Kohli,” Nehra said on Cricbuzz.

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“In the end, India needed 43 to win off three overs, something that many teams back themselves to pull off. I believe Kohli’s role in this Indian team is that of playing an anchor. That’s why his average is so high. We have discussed this earlier as well that even when he’s playing for RCB, it gets difficult to finish the game all by himself. There, he needs AB de Villiers for support. Here too, he needed Hardik Pandya’s support,” Nehra explained.

Virat Kohli needs players around him: Nehra

Virat Kohli

Ashish Nehra said that India has better chances of winning with Hardik Pandya at the crease than Virat Kohli. The skipper’s role is to anchor the innings while Pandya finishes the games for his side. The 41-year old recalled that the national side did somewhat similar in the last clash where they registered a 6-wicket victory after heroics from Pandya. 

“In the previous game, as long as Pandya stood there. If Pandya gets out and Kohli stays, India has a higher chance of losing the game. And if Kohli gets out and Pandya stays, you’ll have a higher chance of winning. Pandya was able to do that, and even Kohli knows it – what his game is and what Pandya’s is. He needs players around him,” Nehra signed off.

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