NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma emerged as a staunch defender of the star batter, praising the Indian cricket icon's resilience and match-winning prowess amidst the ongoing scrutiny surrounding his performance and strike rate in T20 cricket.
Expressing his admiration for Kohli's contributions, Sharma addressed the criticism leveled against the prolific batsman.
"Here is another one from the guy who has won the maximum number of matches for the country. Still people question about his strike rate. Brilliant performance with the bat as well as in the field. Well done champ god bless you," Sharma remarked, via his Instagram handle, commending Kohli's unwavering dedication and impact on the game.
In the face of doubts raised by former cricketers and pundits regarding Kohli's suitability for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Kohli has responded emphatically with his stellar performances in the IPL 2024 season. Accumulating an impressive 634 runs in 12 games, including one century and five fifties, Kohli has silenced his critics with an average of 70.44 and a strike rate of 153.51.
While speaking in a post-match interaction after the match-winning 92 against Punjab Kings on Thursday, Kohli said: "For me, it's still quality over quantity. For me, it works really well. Also, the understanding of the game allows you to practice less, just try to replicate what I have done in the past."
"I brought out the slog sweep against the spinners. I didn't practice it, I know I have hit it in the past. Always looking to expose that side of the field against spin," Kohli added, showcasing his commitment to expanding his skillset and staying ahead of the game.
1/9:Virat Kohli keeps Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL playoffs hunt
ANI
2/9:Kohli's Dominant Innings
Virat Kohli slammed 92 to set up a 60-run win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru over Punjab Kings and keep their slim playoff hopes alive in the Indian Premier League.PTI
3/9:Two crucial partnerships for RCB
Kohli, 35, rode his luck and shared two crucial partnerships with Rajat Patidar (55) and Cameron Green (46) as Bengaluru scored a big 241/7 at the Dharamsala stadium.PTI
4/9:Punjab's Fielding Woes
Punjab paid the price for some sloppy fielding, dropping Kohli twice on zero and 10 off debutant seamer Vidwath Kaverappa.PTI
5/9:Rossouw's Promising Start
<p>Rilee Rossouw gave Punjab a promising start, putting on 65 runs for the second wicket with Jonny Bairstow (27).</p>PTI
6/9:Bengaluru's Bowling Success
RCB bowler Swapnil Singh, who took two wickets, said the victory meant a lot to the side. "The ball was swinging initially, so I looked to swing it. Pressure is less when everybody is (scoring) runs," he said.PTI
7/9:Kohli's Strategic Approach
<p>Kohli said he is always aiming to improve his game. "I brought out the slog-sweep to the spinners. I know I can hit it as I've done it in the past," he said.</p>PTI
8/9:Punjab's Disappointing Campaign
Punjab skipper Sam Curran said it had been a "frustrating and disappointing" end to their campaign.PTI
