According to former South Africa player AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli’s career would be perfectly complemented by winning an IPL championship with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Since the tournament’s first edition, Kohli has been a staple in the team and is one of the few players who have played for the same club ever since. With an incredible 8004 runs in 244 innings at an average of 38.66 and a strike rate of 131.97, including a record 55 half-centuries and eight hundreds, Kohli is also the IPL’s all-time top scorer.
An IPL title would be the icing on the cake for Kohli’s unrivalled record in the competition, according to De Villiers, who had one of the most memorable and powerful partnerships with the captain while he was playing for the RCB in the IPL. The criticism of Kohli’s strike rate was also dismissed by de Villiers, who claimed that he plays the situation and does whatever the team asks of him.
Virat’s strike rate was the subject of absurd scrutiny: AB de Villiers
Virat’s strike rate was the subject of absurd criticism. He had fulfilled his team’s needs exactly. It all depends on the circumstances. You can watch him play and experiment more freely when he has someone he can trust on the other end. According to de Villiers on JioHotstar, “when that’s not the case, he stays true to his natural game—anchoring the innings when needed.”
It’s admirable to watch him try new shots, venture outside of his comfort zone, and experiment with all facets of his game. That capacity has always been a part of him. How much it means to him is evident. His already outstanding career would be completed with an IPL victory with RCB. Last season, he was excellent. He played the exact role his club needed him to, thus his strike rate wasn’t the issue. Virat had to keep the innings together, unlike someone like Fraser McGurk for the Delhi Capitals. He is deserving of all the praise for his vital contribution to RCB’s qualification,” he continued.
During the power play, Kohli’s strike rate was never a problem: Scott Styris
Graeme Smith, a former South Africa captain and panellist with de Villiers, too offered his opinion on Kohli’s strike rate. “It was totally unfair to criticise Virat’s strike rate from the previous season,” he remarked. He had carried RCB’s batting lineup all by himself, which is a huge task, particularly when those around him weren’t performing up to par.
Scott Styris, a former cricket player for New Zealand, went on to say: “Kohli’s strike rate was never a problem during the power-play. After that, he faced a difficulty that required him to change tactics and become more assertive.
“He knew that if he doesn’t increase his scoring rate, if he doesn’t allow himself more freedom at the crease instead of playing it safe, he risks being left behind in the modern T20 game,” said Shane Watson, a former all-rounder for Australia.
India
