Virat Kohli hints at uncapped bowler being “surprise package” in ICC T20 World Cup 2020

Virat Kohli hints at uncapped bowler being “surprise package”: The Indian captain was vocal about the combination for the showpiece event.

A “contended” India captain Virat Kohli disclosed why India played all-rounder Washington Sundar over Ravindra Jadeja in the recently concluded second T20I against Sri Lanka in Indore. Speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, Kohli highlighted the presence of more left-handed batsmen in the opposition team.

“I think they [Sri Lanka] have a lot of left-handers and the idea was about match-ups. We need balance, and you need more than five bowlers in T20 cricket. It was a really good surface, and we pulled things back really well. We kept picking wickets, and we didn’t let them to 170-175, which I thought would have been a par score,” Kohli was quoted as saying.

Much like two T20Is against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai last month, Kohli came in to bat at No. 4 last night. While India had promoted all-rounder Shivam Dube and wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant against West Indies, it was the turn of batsman Shreyas Iyer to bat at No. 3 at the Holkar Stadium.

“The thought process is simple – we need to see guys step up, win matches under pressure. Me going in at 4 helps us too, like I did at Wankhede [against West Indies]. At the same time, give young players a chance,” Kohli said about the experimentation at No. 3.

Virat Kohli hints at uncapped bowler being “surprise package”

Much like cricket’s ancestral format, India are thriving on their fast bowling resources in T20Is as well. Fast bowler Navdeep Saini was exceptional last night as his bowling figures of 4-0-18-2 saw him earning the ‘Man of the Match‘ award.

Being asked the same, Kohli considered all the fast bowlers doing well as a “good sign” for the team. While he welcomed fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah back into the side, he hinted at a “surprise package” being included in the Indian team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

Pune ✈️✈️ @imjadeja @imShard pic.twitter.com/ZfS9mqPBi6

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 8, 2020

“Brilliant from Navdeep [Saini]. He has done well in ODI cricket, and he’s bowling well in T20s, with experienced guys like Jasprit [Bumrah], Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] and Shardul [Thakur].

“It’s a really good sign for the team. It’s good to have Jasprit back again. He was really keen to bowl again, and his pace was up again. We have to choose who will be our best skills. I think there’ll be one player who will be a surprise package. Prasidh Krishna is someone who has bowled really well in domestic cricket,” Kohli added.

In 28 T20s for Bellary Tuskers, Karnataka and Kolkata Knight Riders, 23-year old Krishna has dismissed 24 batsmen at an average of 36.66, an economy rate of 8.66 and a strike rate of 25.3.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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