Individual records don't matter: World Cup winner's advice for Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has shared a word of advice for Virat Kohli heading into the T20 World Cup 2022. 

The 33-year-old batter has managed to hit a purple patch coming into the World Cup but Gambhir believes that Kohli should focus on churning out impactful innings rather than nailing down individual milestones and adding runs to his tally just for the sake of it. 

Gambhir,  a former World Cup winner with India knows all about meaningful contributions at the big stage. The former opener played in key role in helping India win the 2011 ODI World Cup with a crucial 97-run knock in the final against Sri Lanka. 

India will be hoping to win the showpiece event in Australia that is already underway and Virat Kohli will be at the forefront of their charge. 

Kohli is undoubtedly the best limited overs batsman of his time and his return to form could not have been better time. After impressing in the Asia Cup and in the recently concluded series against Australia and South Africa, the 33-year-old will be eyeing World Cup glory this year. 

Gambhir believes that Kohli's return to form is hardly a cause for jubilation as India failed to make their mark in the Asia Cup 2022. It remains to be seen whether the Men in Blue can step up as a team and go all the way in the T20 World Cup now. 

When asked abut how key players like Kohli should approach the World Cup, Gambhir said (as quoted by News18): 

“The mindset of scoring runs, and effective ones, with the help of which your team wins. No point in scoring runs that just go in your records or fifties or hundreds. Even if you make 40 or even 20, make it at such a rate that it helps your team post 170-180. And if you’re chasing, make sure that it takes the pressure off your middle order.

“When you go in such tournaments, you have to keep your personal records at home. Individual records don’t matter in such tournaments. Even if you score 200 runs in the tournament and your team wins, that will be your legacy. But if you score 500 runs and the team gets knocked out, then those runs are of no use."

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