Kohli due for big knock

As he will walk out into the middle at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday, hiding his Mohawk hairstyle underneath the blue grilled helmet, Indian cricket's current poster boy Virat Kohli will know he is due for a big score.

Carrying on his shoulders the expectations of a hundred and twenty six crore people, Kohli will know the stage is set for him to oust Australia from the World Cup and avenge India's loss in the Test matches and the One-Day International (ODI) tri-series, a few months back.

The 26-year-old has had a low-key tournament so far, with only a single century which came in the opening game against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval. Though he averages a healthy 54.2 he has not quite been at his best in the event.

The prolific run-getter has scored 620 runs against the four-time world champions in ODIs from 15 innings at an average of 51.66. He has scored three centuries helping India win those encounters comprehensively.

The flamboyant Indian vice-captain came to the forefront after the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 where he was instrumental in India's triumph.

But he struggled to balance his career and the adulation that came with the success. However, his determination and guidance from some of the senior team members allowed the then teenager to bounce back in some style.

Everytime there has been a run-chase the team has looked up to him to carry them forward, a responsibility which, according to him, he relishes and has helped India chase down mammoth targets. He has so far amassed 6536 runs from 157 ODIs.

The Delhi born right-hander also played a crucial knock in the finals of the 2011 World Cup as he scored a brisk 35 in the successful run chase.

In the ongoing extravaganza, he played a delightful innings of 107 from 126 balls against Pakistan, punctuated by several of his trademark wristy front-of-the-wicket shots.

His willow has been a little silent since and he should be wary of Australia's left-arm quicks having fallen to Pakistan's lefty Wahab Riyaz in the 2011 Cup semi-final.

But given his ability to bounce back and relish such big stages, India will pin their hopes on him of winning on Thursday and in the final on March 29 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

(Debdoot Das can be contacted at debdoot.d@ians.in)