xtratime Logo

Xtra Time Web Desk: Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru stalwart, faced criticism yet again for his sluggish performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 25^th April, Thursday. Sunil Gavaskar, the former captain of India, expressed his dissatisfaction with Kohli's innings, promptly addressing it on air.

“In the middle, he just seemed to have lost touch. I am not sure of the exact numbers, but I think from 31-32 to the time he got out, he did not hit a boundary. So, at the end of the day, when he got out when you are facing the strike in the first ball of the innings and you get out in the 14th or the 15th over, you have got strike rate of 118, that's not what your team expects from you," Gavaskar commented on air.

Read More: Star Sports unveils the high voltage India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash amidst the IPL showdowns

Watch video:

The scrutiny of Virat Kohli's strike rate in IPL 2024 has sparked a live discussion on Jio Cinema, drawing insights from former cricketers Ajay Jadeja and RP Singh. Ajay Jadeja delivered a comprehensive analysis, dissecting Kohli's innings into two distinct phases and emphasizing their respective impacts. While praising Kohli's aggressive start, he questioned RCB's batting order, suggesting it could hinder adaptability and experimentation during the match. RP Singh echoed similar sentiments, applauding Kohli's assertiveness in the Powerplay but expressing apprehension about his subsequent deceleration. He recognized Kohli's ability to unsettle bowlers' rhythm but highlighted a noticeable decline in boundary scoring during the middle overs, a concern shared by many.

"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. 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 said.

Read More: IPL 2024: How is the camera person whom Rishabh unintentionally hit while batting?

"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 said.

As the IPL season unfolds and the T20 World Cup approaches, Kohli's approach will remain under scrutiny