NEW DELHI:
Virat Kohli
's calculated approach contrasted sharply with
Rajat Patidar
's explosive innings for
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL on Thursday.
Patidar (50 off 20 balls) shouldered the majority of the run-scoring responsibility in his 65-run partnership with Kohli (51 off 43), who focused on rotating the strike to his partner, a strategy that drew criticism from
Sunil Gavaskar
during the commentary.
The analysis of Virat Kohli's
strike rate
in IPL 2024 has ignited an engaging discussion on Jio Cinema, eliciting opinions from former cricketers
Ajay Jadeja
and RP Singh.
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Ajay Jadeja provided an insightful analysis, dividing Kohli's innings into two distinct phases and highlighting their respective impacts. He noted Kohli's aggressive start but questioned RCB's batting order, suggesting it might limit adaptability and experimentation during the game.
"When Virat Kohli started, he looked to be in a different mood altogether. When he scored some 24 off the first 11-12 balls, we felt RCB did what SRH had been doing to other teams. But the main difference between SRH and RCB is that when RCB got ahead, they slowed down. Maybe they weren't aiming that high," Jadeja said.
"Talking about Kohli's consistency is like explaining the existence of the sun. The moment the Powerplay ended, he slowed down. It could be because RCB lost two wickets, maybe. Sometimes, it looks as if RCB are very adamant about their roles. DK will always come out at the end. And in doing that, RCB pulled the hand-brake," Jadeja added.
RP Singh shared similar views, commending Kohli's assertiveness in the Powerplay but expressing concern about his subsequent slowdown. He acknowledged Kohli's ability to disrupt bowlers' rhythm but pointed out a significant decrease in boundary scoring during the middle overs, a worry echoed by many.
"He has transformed himself inside the Powerplay. We don't usually get to see such shots from him anymore. He takes his time, backs himself and plays as per the ball. He went to attack alright. He tried to disturb the line and length of the bowlers, but once the wicket fell, he got slow. Usually he isn't this slow; there were almost 24-25 balls when a single boundary wasn't scored, which could have had a strong impact but the good thing was he held one end, allowing Rajat Patidar to get the job done," RP Singh, former India quick, said.
As the IPL season unfolds and the T20 World Cup approaches, Kohli's approach will remain under scrutiny.
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