Virat Kohli, the star batter of the Indian cricket team, has been facing criticism over his strike rate and batting style in the ongoing IPL 2024. Despite being the highest run-getter in this year’s competition, Kohli’s approach has been questioned by some.
However, Kohli has hit back at his critics, stating that he does not pay attention to the chatter surrounding his strike rate. He believes that only those who have played cricket at a high level can truly understand the complexities of the game.
“Not really, all the people who talk about strike-rates and me not playing spin well are the ones talking about this stuff,” Kohli said after a recent match. “For me, it’s about winning the games for the team and there’s a reason why you’ve done it for 15 years, you’ve done this day in and day out, you’ve won games for your teams, I’m not quite sure that if you haven’t been in that situation yourself, to sit and talk about the game in the box. For me, people can talk about their assumptions day in and day out, but those who have done day in and day out, they know what’s happening and it’s a kind of muscle memory for me now.”
Kohli’s comments come after he slammed an unbeaten 70 off just 44 deliveries as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans by 9 wickets. The victory kept RCB’s playoff hopes alive, and Kohli was praised for his match-winning knock.
However, Kohli’s critics have argued that his strike rate is too low, especially in the middle overs. They believe that he needs to be more aggressive in order to help RCB win more games.
Kohli has acknowledged that he needs to improve his strike rate, but he has also defended his approach. He believes that he is a different type of player than he was earlier in his career, and that he needs to adapt his game to the demands of the modern game.
“I’m not going to change my game just because someone says something,” Kohli said. “I’m going to play the way I know how to play, and I’m going to try to win games for my team.”
Kohli’s comments have sparked a debate about the role of strike rate in modern cricket. Some believe that it is an important metric, while others believe that it is overvalued.
Ultimately, it is up to Kohli to decide how he wants to play the game. He is a world-class player with a proven track record of success. If he believes that his current approach is the best way to help RCB win, then he should stick with it.
