"Don't forget that he scored 3 centuries in the 50-over World Cup" - Former India all-rounder on Virat Kohli's likely approach in IND vs ENG 2025 ODIs

Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar has opined that Virat Kohli will likely stick to his tried-and-tested batting template in the upcoming ODI series against England. He pointed out that the modern batting great enjoyed great success in the 2023 ODI World Cup with the same approach.

India will square off against England in three ODIs, with the first game to be played in Nagpur on February 6. The Men in Blue will subsequently take part in the 2025 Champions Trophy, starting their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.

In an interaction on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues', Bangar was asked whether he would like to give any advice to Kohli ahead of the ODIs against England.

"I think he would spend some time at the crease because that's where he has solidified in the way he has played the 50-over format. He is not really going to go and blast attacks apart in the first 30-40 balls. He has got a set template which has given him a lot of success," he replied.

"Don't forget that he scored three centuries in the 50-over World Cup and also that fifty in the final. This is the format that he loves. He also knows that he is not going to be playing for India in the third format, the T20 format, from where he has retired. So he would certainly want to be at his best in this particular format," the former India batting coach added.

Virat Kohli was the highest run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He amassed 765 runs, including three centuries and six half-centuries, at an average of 95.62 in 11 innings in India's run to the final.

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"If you have to find form as a batter, 50-over cricket is ideal" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Virat Kohli heading into IND vs ENG 2025 ODIs

Virat Kohli has scored 13906 runs at an average of 58.18 in 283 ODI innings. [P/C: Getty]

While speaking on 'Follow the Blues', Sanjay Manjrekar opined that 50-over cricket gives Virat Kohli the best chance to regain his form.

"ODI cricket has a massive contribution to the other formats. If you have to find form as a batter, 50-over cricket is ideal because if you are out of form in T20 cricket, it is very difficult to regain form as you have to play the top game as soon as you go in," he said.

The former India batter expects Kohli to be among the runs in the ODIs against England.

"You have seen how difficult Test cricket is. So this is a format where Virat Kohli can take a little time. The opposing team might try to get him out early but you cannot bowl a six-over spell. So this is a chance and he is such a great player that the runs missing in international cricket will be scored in this format," Manjrekar observed.

Virat Kohli (13906) is the third-highest run-getter in ODIs. Only Sachin Tendulkar (18426) and Kumar Sangakkara (14234) have scored more runs than him internationally in the 50-over format.