If Virat Kohli continues to score runs for the RCB, the team will advance: Harbhajan Singh

Former cricket players Harbhajan Singh and Matthew Hayden gave exclusive interviews to Star Sports for the television program “Game Plan,” in which they discussed the upcoming IPL 2024 season. They particularly discussed the historic match between Indian legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, which takes place on March 22, 2024.

In earlier IPL seasons, Hayden talked about Virat Kohli’s performance at Chepauk.

When Virat displays his 2016 form and outclasses the bowlers, Harbhajan wants to see it. Matthew Hayden and Harbhajan Singh also discuss the rivalry between Glen Maxwell and Ravindra Jadeja as well as who they believe will prevail in the crucial opening match between RCB and CSK. Each expert highlights Maxwell’s ability and how he can outperform any bowler on his day.

According to Matthew Hayden, Virat Kohli will be playing for the Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk Stadium. “While Virat has a strong record against the Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni has changed his approach to the power play since 2021. He has been out on power plays in three of the last five innings.

There is no doubt about it being a thrilling matchup; Virat Kohli will essentially be honored in every game this year. At Chepauk Stadium, he had an average of 30 and a strike rate of 111. Thus, it is immediately evident that Virat’s total performance at that location has diminished from his magnificence. It’s a challenging place to bat, especially for an opening batsman facing a strange bounce similar to that of a tennis ball. The game opens up when Virat bats for a while, which is when he may be most dangerous since it’s pretty sluggish and challenging, especially when he plays his strokes early.

Two hundreds, which are quite accessible at Chinnaswamy, are not required at Chepauk Stadium, but if he has truly prepared roughly 20 overs, he can put together a match-winning performance. There have been plenty of runs—156, a fierce 130 at times. When players with the caliber of Harbhajan Singh bowl at those locations and the legendary Jadeja is around, they bowl stump to stump.

The oddity will turn under his influence and subsequently remain low. It is very difficult. Thus, they will require Virat Kohli to be out of the game early in that power play. They will have to do it a fourth time, having already done so three times in the previous five innings.

Speaking about Virat Kohli replicating his 2016 form in 2024, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh stated, “Well, it’s important for him to have a season like 2016, because if Virat Kohli goes on to score runs for them, it means the team will go forward.”

They have some very talented batsmen in their lineup, including Virat Kohli, Maxwell, Green, and a few others like Patidar. I don’t know if they will win the cup, but I think they have a lot of good batting, and everyone wants to see Kohli return to form from 2016 and score a lot of runs at the top. They will have a fantastic opportunity to advance if that takes place.

Speaking about Maxwell’s match against Spin in Chennai, Harbhajan Singh stated, “With regard to the opening match at Chepauk, and with regard to the battle swinging, it’s going towards Jadeja’s side, because this is a tough venue for any batter.” It is important for opening batsmen to allow ample time for themselves when playing at this stadium, as Hayden has correctly pointed out.

The entire game becomes accessible once you’ve settled in. You can then score runs with ease. You can score runs at any tempo you choose. However, this is hardly the kind of field where sixes can be struck at will. On a surface like this, you have to deal with spin bowling when someone like Maxwell comes in the middle over.

It’s a significant task. Anyone can’t just walk out there and start hitting sixes; that’s a tremendous task. Playing singles and doubles requires self-discipline. This is how the game is played here. You’re putting yourself in danger, in my opinion, if you don’t play ten balls here before you start hitting those boundaries. You are always free to go. Therefore, I believe Jadeja will defeat Maxwell in this specific match on that wicket, which will somewhat help Jadeja. It’ll manage for a while. Additionally, there will be some side spin. Maxwell will do just as well there as he would at Wankhede or Chinnaswamy, and Jadeja will be very helpful there.

Matthew stated, “Maxwell’s most potent matchup is actually the Chennai Super Kings.” Hayden and Harbhajan Singh had discussed Maxwell’s potential as a powerful batsman. Against the Chennai Super Kings, he had an average strike rate of thirty, or 187. However, he contributes to his team’s run total by over 20%. That, however, does not only apply to RCB during his IPL tenure. Maxwell, therefore, prefers the juicy one. Furthermore, it’s a bit of a dark horse because, as I fully agree, you would prefer Jadeja to Maxwell.

He is Maxwell, though. He possesses an extra element, a peculiarity in his style of play that may frighten the opposition and force them to adjust, all while winning a cricket match on his own. However, he’s one of those unusual personalities. Choosing to support Jadeja but beinging wary of Maxwell as well, since he enjoys playing the Chennai Super Kings. And in the world of cricket, there aren’t many batsmen who truly fit that description.

“Yeah, I’ve chosen Jadeja over Maxwell,” Harbhajan Singh stated, defending his choice. The cause is that Chepauk is out of the game. To be sure, Maxwell is still Maxwell. He is that amazing batsman who recently helped Australia win the World Cup. He could have scored 200 on one leg and hit sixes, which would have been difficult if he hadn’t played that inning against Afghanistan. Nobody can compete with Maxwell on his day.

When he is in form, Bumrah or any other bowler cannot stop him. Maxwell can accomplish anything in his day. Nevertheless, it will be difficult for anyone to start blasting sixes off the first delivery on this wicket. However, Maxwell is the only one capable of doing so. Who will prevail in this competition?