Lance Klusener, a former all-rounder for South Africa, predicts that Indian sensation Virat Kohli will lead the batting order in the 2023 World Cup, which gets off on Thursday, October 5.
Virat Kohli is in excellent form lately. He’s had a spectacular century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and a solid fifty against Australia in Rajkot. There are rumours that this will be Kohli’s last World Cup. Yet, Klusener believes there is no need for him to slow down.
The following is what Lance Klusener said about Virat Kohli, as reported by CricBlog and Online Cricket Betting:
“Virat Kohli, retirement? Probably not. He’s absolutely quality. He’ll be playing in his home conditions. He’ll probably be the leading run scorer if India go all the way.”
Lance Klusener
Lance Klusener criticizes Australia’s lack of spin specialists
Due to Ashton Agar’s injury, Australia is now down to just one specialist left-arm spinner, Adam Zampa, with the possibility of part-time alternatives Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head when healthy.
Instead of pairing Zampa with a spinner, Lance Klusener thinks the Australians should play to their strengths and utilize an additional fast bowler. In response, he said:
“If there’s no spinner for Australia, no quality spinner, are you better off choosing a fast bowler. They might be lacking one quality spinner but they’ve proved in South Africa they’ve got more than enough weapons in terms of slower bowling and full pace when it comes to doing what they need to do in the World Cup.”
Lance Klusener
Additionally, Klusener commented on the absence of the West Indies from the premier competition and added:
“It’s a little bit weird not having the West Indies there. They’re going through a transition at the moment, failing to qualify in Zimbabwe. Bit of a shame, it’s always nice to have them in any World Cup.”
Lance Klusener
In a rematch of the thrilling 2019 final in Ahmedabad, the opening match of the 2023 World Cup will see the reigning champions England playing against New Zealand.