The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League has been a happy hunting tournament for former RCB skipper Virat Kohli. He has been enjoying his form with the bat and is currently among the highest run-scorers in the ongoing season.
He has scored 419 runs in 10 innings at an average of 46.56 and a strike rate of 135.16. Virat has also scored six half-centuries, which is the most by any batter so far this season. However, his strike rate has come under scanner a few times.
Even in the last game, when RCB lost to the Delhi Capitals, he scored a half-century but made 55 off 46 at a strike rate of 119.57, and RCB ended with a score of 181/4 in their first inning. DC chased it down with 20 balls left and made 187/3 in 16.4 overs to win it by seven wickets.
Virat’s inning raised questions about his slow approach and gave spark to the “dying” anchor role in the T20 format. Notably, the former RCB skipper is scoring runs, but his strike rate is lower than that of other top scorers.
However, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has praised the 34-year-old, said that he should keep his tempo up, and asked him not to think about others. In his latest interaction, Shastri said,
“My thing would be very clear: once you get into tempo, don’t change the tempo. Don’t worry about the others. My message to Virat is that they do their jobs. In a t20 game, you don’t need that many batsmen if you’re in form. Keep that going. “If you get going, don’t change the tempo; try and up the end.”
Virat will be seen in action on Tuesday when RCB faces the five-time champion at their own den. It’s a high-voltage game against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on May 8. Both teams have 10 points each, and whoever wins the game will break into the top four of the competition.