With 419 runs from 10 games, including six fifties, Virat Kohli features in the top half of the run-scorers’ list in IPL 2023. But his approach to a T20 innings still raises questions.
The latest of his fifties came against Delhi Capitals on Saturday night, but many thought that scoring 55 off 46 balls didn’t help Royal Challengers Bangalore as they went on to lose the game.
Is the underperforming RCB middle order forcing Kohli to play deep?
Ravi Shastri, who was the India coach when Virat was the captain, has advised the 34-year-old to not drop his “tempo” after getting a start and that he doesn’t need to worry about other batters.
“Once you gain tempo, don’t change, don’t worry about the others. That will be my message to Virat. In a T20 game, you don’t need that many batsmen. If you are hot, keep that going. Prime example of that was Phil Salt (of Capitals). Once he got into the groove he didn’t let go,” Shastri told ESPNcricinfo.
“It took the pressure off the other batsmen. Even they were hammering, whether it was (Mitchell) Marsh or (Rilee) Roussow. So that is something that could be there from Virat’s point of view. If he gets going don’t change your tempo, try and up the ante,” Shastri added.
Salt played a match-winning 87 off 45 balls for Delhi.
Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody feels batting deep is out of fashion now that the ‘impact player’ rule is in place. But Kohli, after his 44-ball 61 against Lucknow Super Giants, had defended his batting style, saying playing the anchor role was important. “There are many people who because they have not been in that situation themselves, look at the game differently.”
Kohli’s strike rate so far in this IPL is 135.16. His opening partner, Faf du Plessis, scores at 157.71.
