Due to Kohli’s innings, the declining role of ‘anchor’ in T20 again in discussion
Virat Kohli’s 46-ball 55 against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League match has rekindled the debate about the diminishing role of anchor batsmen in the T20 format. Despite this innings of Kohli, the team of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had to face defeat in this match. Delhi won the match with 20 balls to spare with the help of Phil Salt’s big half-century.
RCB’s middle order is not performing well and in such a situation Kohli’s attitude of staying till the end can be considered correct but it cost his team at least 20 runs which would have been victorious for his team at Feroz Shah Kotla. There could have been a score. Kohli had scored only 19 runs in the first 18 balls. It is clear from this that if the teams have to make a good score in the power play, then they will have to bat aggressively. In such a situation, the role of the batsmen who lead the innings becomes secondary. Delhi head coach Ricky Ponting had earlier this season expressed doubts over the anchor role in T20s.
This former Australia captain had said, “I believe that if you have an aggressive and powerful batsman, he can change his game to play the role of an anchor, but a batsman playing the role of an innings can hardly strike 200.” Will be able to score runs at the rate. If any player can do this this year, it is Ajinkya Rahane. “Ponting said,” I think the role of anchor is decreasing. It depends on the batsman coming to the crease because sometimes you don’t get the start you want and you are forced to change your role.
