IPL 2020: Can ‘Run Machine’ Virat Kohli turn the fortunes by winning his maiden IPL

XtraTime Web Desk: There is absolutely no denying the fact that Indian captain Virat Kohli is the best batsman in modern day cricket across formats. Kohli, who is ranked No. 1 in ODIs, No.2 in Test cricket and No.3 in T20Is is a testimony of how he has evolved as a batsman over the years. He has been regarded as the ‘Run Machine’ for a valid reason. Once again the flamboyant batsman from Delhi will have the onus of carrying the responsibility of leading a power packed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) squad in the upcoming 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) which gets underway in UAE from September 19.
Kohli the batsman has done excellently in the cash rich league so far. He is the leading run scorer in the IPL with 5412 runs from 177 matches at an average of 37.84 along with an impressive strike rate of 131.61. His ability and hunger to score daddy hundreds has taken the cricket world by storm. So far in his IPL career, Kohli has registered 5 hundreds (only Chris Gayle has scored the most hundreds in IPL i.e., 6). Among his contemporaries, Mumbai Indians captain and his deputy in Indian team, Rohit Sharma has scored the third most runs in the cash rich league. The Hitman has so far registered 4898 runs from 188 matches at an average of 31.60 with a strike rate of 130.82. IPL 2016 has been the path breaking season for Virat Kohli as he scored 973 runs from 16 matches at an average of 81.08 along with a strike rate of 152.03. He also notched up 4 hundreds. Kohli comes across as a cricketer.
This IPL season will be a huge test for Virat Kohli as the captain of RCB. Since being appointed as the captain in 2013 season, Kohli has failed to deliver for the franchise. His loyalty to the franchise has remained the highlight in his career since he started playing from them from the inaugural season in 2008. He comes across as a captain who is aggressive and expresses his mind on the field. With a power packed squad which has all the bases covered this season, Kohli would want to have his hand on the silverware which has so far eluded him. Whether Kohli can turn the fortunes as captain in his favour only time will say.