Last Updated on 4 years ago by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Backing Virat Kohli to bounce back in Asia Cup: Mahela Jayawardene | Virat has the tools to come out of form slump: Mahela
Former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene has backed Virat Kohli to rediscover his form in the Asia Cup in the build-up to the T20 World Cup later this year. The Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach has reiterated that Kohli has the necessary abilities to get back in the groove. He has expressed that the ex-India captain must be given every opportunity to regain his touch with the bat.
Kohli has returned to the India squad for the Asia Cup after having been rested for the team’s tours to the Caribbean and Zimbabwe, and Jayawardene is backing Kohli to do well.
Kohli will come back, but some concerns about KL Rahul – Mahela Jayawardene
“It is unfortunate what Virat is going through right now at the moment, but he is a quality player. I believe Virat has the tools to come out of it (the form slump). He has done that in the past as well and I’m sure he’ll come through this,” Jayawardene told ICC Review, as quoted by the Indian Express.
Along with him, opening batsman KL Rahul has also been included in the roster after his lengthy injury layoff post the previous season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rahul endured a series of injuries and fitness issues after the IPL and even missed the team’s crucial tour to England in the time being. Jayawardene expressed apprehensions at Rahul’s lack of game-time.
“That would be a concern for India. He has been out for a little while since the IPL, so having game time is quite crucial especially out there in the middle. The sooner he can get some game time and get that confidence back, is always going to help him, as well as the national team,” the 45-year-old said, as per the aforementioned publication.
Jayawardene also offered his two cents on India’s recent experiment of opening the batting with Rishabh Pant. The southpaw played at the top of the order in the T20I series vs England whereas he was shifted back to the middle-order in the Caribbean. However, Jayawardene believes that the swashbuckler’s playing style will remain the same across any batting position.
“Wherever he bats, you’re not going to change his game. He is going to be a very natural player so yes, it is an option (for Pant to open),” he quipped on the show.
