WE’VE GOT A PLAN TO STOP KOHLI
MOEEN SAYS ENGLAND WILL FORCE A MISTAKE
ENGLAND plan to force a mistake from Virat Kohli by limiting his scoring options in “the biggest game in T20 cricket”.
Finding a way to stop the in-form India legend will be one of the toughest challenges for Jos Buttler’s side in Thursday’s semi-final.
Named the ICC men’s player of the month following his stunning World Cup performances – which have made him the tournament’s highest-ever run scorer – Kohli’s star is once again on the rise.
And his former team-mate at Royal Challengers Bangalore believes the 34-year-old is now back to his very best.
But Moeen Ali, who played with Kohli for three seasons in the IPL, has seen enough to know that even the elite players are susceptible to a carefully executed plan.
“I’ve played with and against these guys quite a lot now and so you know a lot,” said Moeen.
“We’ll know how we’re going to bowl at him and stick to those plans.
“Since the Asia Cup I feel like he’s back to his best.
“He looks like he’s found his mojo again and that happens to every player over their career.
“Top players, when they’re in, they’re hard to stop in T20 cricket. You have to have a plan to slow them down and then maybe get a wicket.”
Moeen and Kohli struck up a good friendship during their time as team-mates, even if results on the field did not go quite to plan. The England allrounder moved to Chennai Super Kings in 2021 and immediately won his first title alongside MS Dhoni, an experience he can lean on in the big pressure games.
As England’s vice-captain it will be up to him to set an example to the younger players against India.
“It’s the biggest game you can play in T20 cricket,” added Moeen.
“In terms of the crowds and playing against a top side, and cricket being such a force in India, it is huge. That’s what you want as a player. We will be the underdogs, they will be the favourites to win and it will be a great game.
“They’re obviously used to playing under pressure in front of a lot of people.
“At CSK I felt like I learnt a lot from guys like Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo.
“I learnt how senior players can rub off on the younger players.
“It’s amazing in big games – the older players in this team just need to stay calm and get the youngsters really fired up without getting too emotionally fired up.”
Virat looks like he has found his mojo again