Kohli's Resurgence Bolsters India's Batting Strength: Rayudu
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Synopsis
Ambati Rayudu praises Virat Kohli's return to form in the Champions Trophy, enhancing India's batting strength. He discusses team's upcoming challenges against New Zealand and reflects on England's struggles in the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Virat Kohli's return bolsters India's batting lineup.
- Shubman Gill's impressive performance adds depth.
- India's balance is a key strength in the tournament.
- Upcoming match against New Zealand is crucial.
- England's struggles against spin cost them in the tournament.
Vadodara, Feb 28 (NationPress) Former India batsman Ambati Rayudu believes that Virat Kohli regaining his form during the Champions Trophy has provided a significant boost to India's already formidable batting order.
Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India has advanced to the semi-finals of the eight-team tournament after achieving successive victories against Bangladesh and arch-rivals Pakistan in Group A. Kohli delivered a match-winning century against Pakistan and scored 22 runs against Bangladesh in their opening game.
Additionally, Shubman Gill has been performing exceptionally well in the top order, scoring a century against Bangladesh and contributing 46 runs against Pakistan, accumulating a total of 147 runs in the competition.
Rayudu commented, "India's primary strength lies in the overall balance of the squad. Our top-order batting has been outstanding, and with Virat finding his rhythm, it enhances our already strong batting line-up." He spoke to IANS on Friday.
The former player expressed curiosity about how India will face the spinners from New Zealand in their upcoming match.
"It will be fascinating to see how they handle the New Zealand spinners; it will serve as a significant test for them. This upcoming game against New Zealand will set the stage perfectly for India as they head into the semi-finals," Rayudu added.
The Men in Blue are scheduled to clash with New Zealand in their final group match on March 2 before preparing for the semi-final.
Regarding England's early exit from the tournament, Rayudu noted that the English team's middle order struggled to perform under the subcontinent conditions.
"I believe England's difficulties against spin and their middle order batting were not up to par, which we observed even during the series against India. Their challenges were apparent in the Champions Trophy as well. Surprisingly, they did not attempt to adapt to the conditions or stick to the fundamentals," he stated.
Rayudu further explained, "They were quite rigid in their playing style, and ultimately, this approach has not worked well in the subcontinent conditions."
Currently representing India Masters in the International Masters League, Rayudu anticipates that the second leg of the tournament in Vadodara will present different playing conditions compared to Navi Mumbai's D.Y. Patil Stadium.
"I expect it to be quite challenging due to the varied surfaces. Even during practice, we are trying to understand how the pitch will behave in the game. It differs significantly from what the D.Y. Patil has provided. It's more about timing the ball and hitting gaps. The pitch could surprise us and turn out to be very favorable as well. We are eager for the challenge," he stated.
Reflecting on reuniting with cricket legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, and others, Rayudu shared, "It's been incredible to see so many great cricketers who have contributed immensely to their nations and the game. It's remarkable that they are all fit and eager to play. This is a positive sign, and all the teams here are highly competitive, making it enjoyable while also playing at a high level."
