A huge controversy has erupted regarding a clip of Harsha Bhogle criticising Virat Kohli’s T20 approach. While the veteran cricket commentator lashed out for getting quoted out of context, his comment on Virat Kohli’s batting style in T20s could be on point. He implied that it might benefit his team if Kohli gets dismissed to make room for a more aggressive batter. Bhogle is infuriated and claimed that the video was ‘selectively edited’. However, Bhogle might actually have a point on what he said. Virat Kohli might be an asset for the Indian team to this day, but there’s no denying that the batter slows the game down for his team in T20s, at least the stats suggests so.
Virat Kohli has been a vital cog for the Indian team for more than a decade. However, will it be too harsh to claim that the Indian batter is a liability when it comes to T20s? Let the stats decide.
Virat has never been an opener in his life. He generally plays at the one-down position or comes in at number 4. Being a middle-order batter, Kohli’s primary job remains gaining momentum for his team in the middle overs so that the batters in death can finish with a flourish. Does he do so?
Virat Kohil in middle overs (Overs 7-16) in T20Is
Balls faced: 4914
Runs scored: 6322
Average: 45.15
Strike Rate: 128.65
The stats suggest Virat Kohli scores runs for India in middle overs of T20Is, but he doesn’t do it fast enough. A strike rate of just over 128 is nowhere near enough for a batter in the middle overs in T20Is. Moreover, these are the tangible stats. What cannot be fathomed is the pressure the batter on the other end faces when Virat Kohli plays at such a low strike rate. His partner has to try and score big since Kohli is slow, and India more often than not lose wickets in the process. Kohli may be slow for India in T20Is, but his IPL records must reflect Kohli’s aggressive approach, or do they? Let’s find out.
Latest on IPL 2024
Virat Kohli in middle overs (Overs 7-16) in IPL
Balls faced: 3025
Runs scored: 3792
Average: 41.21
Strike Rate: 125.35
As evident, Kohli’s stats isn’t any better in IPL too, with the batter’s strike rate even lower than T20Is. What Harsha Bhogle meant with his comments cannot to discarded altogether, specially because Kohli has been far less impressive than his talent demands him to be.
Virat Kohli Strike Rate in death overs and Power Plays in T20Is and IPL
If we talk about Kohli’s strike rate in the power plays of T20s is not great by any stretch of imagination either. It is just over 117 when playing for India. In IPL it is over 116.
In death overs, Virat Kohli does improve his strike rate significantly. In T20Is, Kohli strikes at over 198. When it comes to IPL, his strike rate moves past the 200 runs mark.
However, the above stats only goes to show Kohli is slow in the beginning and in middle overs, and tries to compensate for it in the death overs. The stats only validates Harsha Bhogle’s comments, however ‘selectively edited’ they may be.
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