Nasser Hussain Praises Virat Kohli Amid T20 World Cup

Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain commended India's star batter Virat Kohli, noting his consistent presence in crucial matches. Although Kohli has struggled in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, scoring 75 runs at an average of 10.71, Hussain highlighted Kohli's performance against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the T20 World Cup 2022. Speaking to Sky Sports, Nasser said, "I mean you go back to the game against Pakistan at the MCG, India were floundering. Who was there at the end smashing? That's the biggest game of all time for the Indians. India-Pakistan, you know. So he is always there in big matches."

Hussain further stressed that no one should underestimate the 35-year-old in critical matches, attributing Kohli's struggles to the pitch conditions in New York. "I personally think Virat Kohli should bat like he's batted over the last decade. He's got a strike rate of 138. He can be the glue, the rock, you know, they all bat around, and they all come in playing their shots. You cannot doubt Kohli as a player. You cannot doubt him in a big match. He has suffered because of that New York pitch because he had a brilliant IPL," he added.

India will face South Africa in the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday. The Rohit Sharma-led team has dominated throughout the tournament, defeating major teams like Australia, Pakistan, and England. In contrast, South Africa has narrowly escaped elimination several times, with close calls against Bangladesh, Nepal, and the West Indies during the Super 8 stage.