“Virat Kohli has got the capability of getting a 40-ball 100” – Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly feels Virat Kohli has got the capability of getting a 40-ball 100. Kohli has been in terrific form in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024 while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Kohli has scored 379 runs in eight matches of the ongoing season at an average of 63.17 and a strike rate of 150.40 and he is the highest run-getter in the tournament. The talisman has also scored a century in IPL 2024, reaching the personal milestone off 67 balls.

Kohli has a phenomenal record in T20 format and he has scored 4037 runs in 117 T20I matches at an average of 51.76 and a strike rate of 138.16.

“Virat Kohli has got the capability of getting a 40-ball 100 also…” Ganguly said in a special media event organized by Delhi Capitals on Monday. “India, with the talent they have, just need to go and hit. The mindset should be to hit and then we’ll see what happens in five-six overs.”

Ganguly wants Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to take an aggressive approach in the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA.

“It’s not a drastic change. They have the talent to do that change. You saw how Rohit batted in the 50-over World Cup, just came and hit at the top. That’s why we were such a good side. It put so much pressure on the opposition in the first seven-eight overs and gave breathing space for the lower order. I think Virat and Rohit (Sharma) should do the same. They are great players.”

Meanwhile, Ganguly is also hopeful that KL Rahul can also find the right template of batting in the T20 format. Rahul recently scored a fine knock of 82 runs off just 53 balls against Chennai Super Kings and Ganguly added the LSG captain was exceptional.

“It depends on what the captain and the coach instructs him (Rahul) to do in the middle,” Ganguly said. “The other day I saw him play an innings against Chennai in Lucknow where I thought he was exceptional. He did exactly what was required to do at that moment. It’s about playing freely and without fear, that’s the most important thing.”

“I hope Rahul and Rohit find a method of playing T20 cricket because [they and] Virat, Hardik (Pandya), Rishabh (Pant), Surya (Kumar Yadav) and Shivam Dube of Chennai – these are exceptional talents. The six-hitting ability of all of them is enormous. That’s the way they should play – just hit,” he added.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland.