No lean patch for Virat Kohli, insists batting coach

NEW DELHI: India’s batting coach played down concerns on Monday about the recent poor batting form of Virat Kohli, saying he was on the brink of scoring some “big runs”.

Kohli, 33, last scored an international century in August 2019, and made eight, 18 and nought in India’s recent 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies in ODIs at home.

The combative batsman, one of the best in the world, stepped down as India’s T20 captain last year and was then sacked as ODI skipper. He then resigned the Test captaincy in January.

“I don’t think he’s going through a lean phase,” batting coach Vikram Rathour told a news conference. “At least in this format, T20s and ODIs he has done really well. I understand he had a poor series against the West Indies [in ODIs] but [there is] no conversation [on his form] as such.”

India and the West Indies will play three T20 matches in Kolkata starting on Wednesday.