Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli has been amongst the runs in the ongoing IPL 2024. He is the Orange Cap holder for most runs in the season, however, there has been a lot of debate about his strike rate.
The debate intensified when Kohli was named in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Many fans and experts felt that his presence in Team India's roster could be a disadvantage to their strategy.
The former RCB captain then made it his mission to end the discussion with flair against the Punjab Kings. Kohli scored 92 runs off 47 balls, including seven fours and six sixes, at a strike rate of 195.74, leading his team to 241/7 in 20 overs.
Former India and CSK, MI batter Ambati Rayudu defended Virat Kohli and shut down his critics with a brilliant take on the RCB star's playing style.
"I think about the strike rate. It entirely depends on the surface and the given match. You cannot have a collective strike rate and criticize anybody for that. On a given day, if you are batting under par, you say you need to score 200 and with your strike rate, you can only score 160, then you should be criticized.
But on a given day, you can only score 140, like how Ruturaj got 40 off 40, that's a crucial knock. I think collective stats should not really be taken into consideration and Virat Kohli has been batting beautifully specially against spinners this year, he has been playing those slog sweeps inside and I don't think he should be criticized. He should not be criticized for any format, anywhere in the world," Rayudu told Hindustan Times.
Rayudu got support from his former CSK and MI teammate Harbhajan Singh as well.
Harbhajan Singh said: "He is a champion player for India. I think he showed a lot of intent in the middle overs against the spinners as Rayudu mentioned. Never seen him playing those sweep shots. Now he is playing those sweep shots over midwicket. That goes on to show that he is trying. Even though he is Virat Kohli, he is still trying to be better than Virat Kohli, you know what we have seen. As long as people are their best, they shouldn't be criticized.”
Kohli is on top of the Orange Cap race with 661 runs in 13 matches, consisting of a ton and five half-centuries, at a strike rate of 155.16.
Not only this, but Kohli has the second-best strike rate, only behind Sanju Samson's 158.30. He boasts a better strike rate than the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad (141.50), Sai Sudharsan (141.28), and Riyan Parag (153.82).
