MANCHESTER: The key to success is often the ability to adapt, and Virat Kohli-the most successful ODI player for the last half-a-decade doesn’t mind taking a backseat when Rohit Sharma’s going all guns blazing.
“I have been watching it for years now, I have been saying it publicly, in my opinion, Rohit is the best one-day player. When he plays, we are heading towards a big score and really happy with the way he’s playing,” said Kohli on the eve of India’s crunch semi-final against New Zealand.
“When he plays well we know we are heading for a big score. He gives everyone confidence to go out and bat,” he added.
Rohit has smashed a record five centuries in a single World Cup to lead the tournament batting charts with 647 runs from eight innings.
Kohli has hit five fifties but a hundred has so far eluded the world’s top ODI and Test batsman, who is happy to let Sharma play the more aggressive role once again when they face New Zealand at Old Trafford.
“It’s been a different kind of role that I have had to play in this World Cup. As the captain of the team I have been open to play any role that the team wants me to,” Kohli told reporters on Monday.
“It’s great that Rohit is playing so consistently which means that coming in the later half of the innings you have to play a different role, which is controlling and letting guys like Hardik (Pandya), Kedar (Jadhav) and MS (Dhoni) and Rishabh (Pant) come out and express themselves.
SPECIAL HAVE MSD AROUND
Virat Kohli added that “the respect for him (Dhoni) is always going to be sky high”. The Indian skipper also acknowledged that Dhoni is “always there” to give his valuable advice. “The respect for him (Dhoni) is always going to be sky high, especially from me,” Kohli said during the press briefing in Manchester on Monday, ahead of the World Cup 2019 semi-final clash with New Zealand.
“Especially being captain - he gives you space to discover yourself. But if I ask him anything, he’s always there. I’m delighted to play so many years with him,” Kohli added.
Speaking about the match, Kohli said, “Every game is full of pressure, never felt any game is easy”.
Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson will face off on a big stage, 11 years after the 2008 U-19 World Cup semi-final where two had led their respective sides.
