India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are the star teams Virat KohliThe strike rate in the ongoing IPL 2024 is a major topic of discussion among cricket experts and now former Team India head coach and noted commentator Ravi Shastri also shared his thoughts on the same.
The dashing right-hander is in top form with the bat for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing IPL 2024 and has already scored 500 runs from 10 matches in the tournament at an average of 71.43 and a strike rate of 147.49.
Kohli has now amassed over 7,700 IPL runs at a strike rate of 131 and an average of 38.43, making him the all-time leading run-getter in IPL history. The dashing right-hander crossed the 500-run mark for the seventh time in the IPL and became only the second batsman after David Warner to do so.
Ravi Shastri supports Virat Kohli over strike quota drama
Recently, the former India and RCB captain played a match-winning knock of 70 off 44 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT) to silence his critics but still there is a lot of noise about his strike rate in T20s. However, Kohli has found support from his former coach Ravi Shastri.
Shastri believes that it is unfair to target Kohli because of his strike rate despite him consistently performing well with the bat as it is the result of his team’s overall performance in the tournament.
The commentator said that when wickets fall around a batsman, it is obvious that their strike rate goes down and something similar happens with Kohli. Ravi Shastri was quoted by Stake.com as saying: “If wickets are falling around you, your strike rate is likely to go down.”
Shastri also said that there are few players who perform consistently and that is why bottom-placed RCB is not doing well in the ongoing IPL 2024. He noticed: “If you look at RCB, there are only one or two consistent performers.”
I speak what I see: Ravi Shastri
The former Indian skipper and all-rounder also spoke about his technique on the microphone. The commentator concluded by saying: “I say what I see and prepare properly for crucial aspects such as the event and the participating teams.”
What is noteworthy is that despite all the speculation and criticism over his strike rate, Virat Kohli has found a place in India’s 15-man pre-selection squad for the coming season ICC T20 World Cup 2024which is to be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 1st.
Kohli is currently an Orang Cap holder in the ongoing IPL 2024 and is expected to continue his form in the tournament ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which is likely to be his last chance to win his first World T20 Trophy of his career.
On the other hand, RCB will face Gujarat Titans (GT) in their next IPL 2024 match on May 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.