Virat Kohli has been the only positive for RCB in their hazardous campaign this season. The former Indian skipper has already scored two half centuries and one hundred in the ongoing season of this year’s IPL. However, in spite of this performance, Virat Kohli has been criticized for the strike rate with which he’s batting.
Virat Kohli is currently playing with a strike rate of over 140 in this year’s IPL and plays an anchor role for RCB. However, many experts believe that the anchor role is no longer needed in Twenty20 cricket.
Speaking about Virat’s strike rate, former World Cup-winning pacer Irfan Pathan has lashed out at everyone who’s talking about Virat’s strike rate in the T20 format. Irfan Pathan even pointed out, saying that Virat (138.15) has a similar strike rate as Rohit Sharma (139.17).
In his interaction with Star Sports, Irfan Pathan said, “Virat Kohli’s strike rate is actually slightly better than Chris Gayle in T20Is. It’s 137, or close to 138; Hardik Pandya’s strike is 139; Rohit Sharma’s strike rate is 139. We don’t talk about their strike rate, and we are talking about Virat. You need to make it strike-rate plus average.”
Irfan Pathan further added, “You need to see the kind of role that particular player is playing. You can’t have the same yardstick for each and every player. If a guy is batting at No. 6 or 7 and has a strike rate of 137, will you be happy? You want a better strike rate. But if you have a guy who has a nearly 50 average plus a 137 strike rate, why would you even want to talk about whether he should be on the team or not?”
Even when Virat scored his 100 against the Rajasthan Royals (113 of 72 deliveries), there were talks of his strike rate.
