Virat Kohli silenced his critics in emphatic fashion with a match-winning 70* off 44 deliveries against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday. Following his brilliant knock, Kohli addressed to some questions and fired back at those who have been questioning his batting form, particularly his strike rate in the middle overs and his struggles against spin bowling.
Virat Kohli has something to say for his critics
Kohli’s knock was instrumental in propelling Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a crucial victory, making him the first batsman to reach the 500-run mark in IPL 2024. However, during the post-match interaction, Kohli adopted a somewhat aggressive stance while responding to questions about his batting.
During the post-match presentation, Kohli was asked about the 500-run milestone. However, he took a moment to address his critics, particularly those who have been questioning his strike rate after powerplay overs.
“Not really,” Kohli said. “All the people who talk about strike rates, me not playing spin well, are the ones who love talking about this stuff. But for me, it’s all about winning the game for the team. That’s the reason why I’ve been doing it for fifteen years, day in and day out.“
Kohli went on to suggest that his critics haven’t been in the pressure cooker of playing at the highest level. “If you’re not in that situation yourself to sit and speak about them in the box, I don’t think it’s the same thing,” he explained. “For me, it’s about doing things, people can talk about their assumptions. Those who have done day in and day out, it’s kind of muscle memory now.”
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Courtesy of Sai Sudharsan’s 84, GT went on to post 200 runs in the first innings. Incredibly for RCB, they went hard in the from the start. Virat Kohli, in particular, eyed to stamp his authority from the start. He smashed three sixes, all of which came against spinners. Despite his strike rate concerns earlier this season, the modern-day master operated at a rate of 159.00.
Having said that, Kohli enjoyed a thrilling knock from the other end. Will Jacks completely took apart the GT bowlers, as the two stitched up 166* runs in only 73 balls. Jacks, who hit the winning six, got to his maiden IPL hundred in 41 balls.
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