Sports
Kohli due for big knock
By
Debdoot Das As he will walk out into the middle at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)
on Thursday, hiding his Mohawk hairstyle underneath the blue grilled
helmet, Indian cricket's current poster boy Virat Kohli will know he is
due for a big score.
Carrying on his shoulders the expectations
of a hundred and twenty six crore people, Kohli will know the stage is
set for him to oust Australia from the World Cup and avenge India's loss
in the Test matches and the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series, a
few months back.
The 26-year-old has had a low-key tournament so
far, with only a single century which came in the opening game against
Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. Though he averages a healthy 54.2 he has
not quite been at his best in the event.
The prolific run-getter
has scored 620 runs against the four-time world champions in ODIs from
15 innings at an average of 51.66. He has scored three centuries helping
India win those encounters comprehensively.
The flamboyant
Indian vice-captain came to the forefront after the Under-19 World Cup
in 2008 where he was instrumental in India's triumph.
But he
struggled to balance his career and the adulation that came with the
success. However, his determination and guidance from some of the senior
team members allowed the then teenager to bounce back in some style.
Everytime
there has been a run-chase the team has looked up to him to carry them
forward, a responsibility which, according to him, he relishes and has
helped India chase down mammoth targets. He has so far amassed 6536 runs
from 157 ODIs.
The Delhi born right-hander also played a crucial
knock in the finals of the 2011 World Cup as he scored a brisk 35 in
the successful run chase.
In the ongoing extravaganza, he played a
delightful innings of 107 from 126 balls against Pakistan, punctuated
by several of his trademark wristy front-of-the-wicket shots.
His
willow has been a little silent since and he should be wary of
Australia's left-arm quicks having fallen to Pakistan's lefty Wahab
Riyaz in the 2011 Cup semi-final.
But given his ability to bounce
back and relish such big stages, India will pin their hopes on him of
winning on Thursday and in the final on March 29 at the Melbourne
Cricket Ground.
(Debdoot Das can be contacted at [email protected])