Virat Kohli’s outstanding innings (92 off 47) helped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) put up a commanding 241/7 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday. Throughout his innings, Kohli deliberately used the slog-sweep stroke to counter the spinners, a risk he was ready to take in order to maintain a high scoring rate.
Kohli had a respectable strike rate of 123.58 against spinners in the first nine IPL 2024 games going into this one. But he’s improved his strikeout rate to an astounding 167.7 in his last three innings, partly because he feels more comfortable with the slog sweep.
The slog sweep has grown in importance this season, and the New Delhi native’s ability to adjust and develop his game has been a major feature of his remarkable career.
To the spinners, I presented the slog sweep. I simply placed myself in that circumstance mentally. I never gave it any practice. Speaking at the post-game celebration, Kohli said, “I know I can hit it because I’ve hit it a lot in the past.”
I had to take a little more chance. Virat Kohli
It paid off against PBKS for the former captain of the Royal Bengals to be willing to take calculated chances.
“It was a shot that I used to hit frequently, so I just felt like I needed to take a bit more risk. That’s allowing me to hit off the back foot now that I’m looking to expose that side (leg side) of the field against the spin, which has been a huge factor for me this IPL,” the RCB opener continued.
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The ace batter’s decision to use the slog sweep demonstrated his willingness to keep getting better. “What if you get out? is a concept that needs to be banished, and I believe it requires a little more conviction. In this IPL, I believe I have been able to maintain an advantage over that notion. And it has aided me in getting through the middle overs, maintaining both the team’s scoring pace and my strike rate,” he went on.
Following their sixty-run victory over PBKS, RCB remains a strong contender for a postseason spot. With 10 points and more than two games remaining in the league stage, the Bengaluru-based team is now ranked seventh.
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