Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson is in phenomenal form in IPL 2024. And it comes at the right time, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 which is scheduled to begin in June. Just three weeks into the tournament, the Kerala batter has already shown why he should definitely be considered for a spot in the T20 WC squad, with his numbers speaking for himself.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, has turned back the clock in an attempt to rediscover his form from 2016. The current Orange Cap holder, who believes he’s ‘still got it’, has been slow but steady in the ongoing IPL, being the lone warrior for his side.
This gets us to a controversial and debatable question. Whose approach should India favour for the T20 World Cup? A fiery Sanju Samson or a methodical Virat Kohli? Let’s look at what their IPL 2024 numbers have to say.
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Unhinged Sanju Samson goes all out in IPL 2024
Positioned at the number four spot in the Orange Cap standings in IPL 2024, Samson has been on a role in this season of the tournament. With 246 runs to his name with a strike rate of 157.69, the keeper-batter has already made his case as to why he is one of the frontrunners for a spot in India’s squad. He has three fifties already in IPL 2024 and averages 82.00.
Old horse Virat Kohli at it again!
Virat Kohli is once again doing what he is the best at! A lone warrior for a miserable side like RCB, Virat Kolhi has already amassed 316 runs in just four games, making him the leading run-getter of IPL 2024 already. He has smashed a century and two fifties to put everyone on notice. More so, to remind all that he’s still got it. However, a point of concern would be his strike rate.
Sanju Samson vs Virat Kohli in IPL 2024
| Name | Matches | Runs | Strike rate | Average |
| Virat Kohli | 5 | 316 | 146.30 | 105.33 |
| Sanju Samson | 5 | 246 | 157.69 | 82.00 |
One can argue about the strike rate, noting that the rest of the RCB batters have done the bare minimum to support Kohli. Currently, the batting maestro enjoys a strike rate of 146.30. His 67-ball century became the eye of the storm for what critics called a ‘slow paced knock’ in a fast-paced game. Certainly, the vast experience possessed by Kohli cannot make up for anything else when it comes to being a part of World Cups.
Yet, should India try and experiment with those in form and with better numbers than just going ahead with experienced players? While it seems unlikely, Samson has surely thrown his hat in the ring with his bat doing the talking in IPL 2024. And as for Kohli, there’s no doubt that he is still one of the best batters across formats. However, the T20 format is very demanding and can be unfair to conventional batters.
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