Unflattering hashtags trend on X whenever India and RCB great Virat Kohliscores but RCB or India lose. Social media was buzzing again on Saturday night after RCB lost to RR in Jaipur despite Kohli’s unbeaten 113.
It is a bit like that ridiculous narrative in the 1990s and 2000s. “India don’t win if Sachin Tendulkar scores big runs.” Really? Check the stats.
And check the stats and innings progression of Kohli too in Jaipur. He scored at a strike-rate of 156.94. Jos Buttler’s hundred came off 58 balls at a strike-rate of 172.41.
The difference?
Buttler had an inform aggressive batter in Sanju Samson at the other end, whose 69 came at a strike-rate of 164.29. Kohli had a struggling Faf du Plessis.
Kohli’s innings progression was incremental if you consider strike-rates. He scored 32 off his first 25 (SR, 128), got 39 off his next 25 (SR 156) and 42 off his last 22 (SR 191.9).
When one criticises, one should also factor in that maybe he is currently paying the price for being part of a franchise with an overseas batting trinity comprising Du Plessis, Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell, who have been struggling.
That could be the reason why he is forced to bat conservatively, knowing well that his dismissal early could mean a sub-par score. Coach Andy Flower alluded to that in his media interaction post the game.
Where the criticism or observation should be pricklier is Kohli’s strike-rate against spin. There was no left-arm spin to chain him down on Saturday. But he faced 15 balls against off-spinner R Ashwin and scored only 14 runs without hitting a boundary.
He was more attacking against leggie Yuzvendra Chahal who he hit for 24 runs off 10 balls. RCB got only 62 runs off the eight overs from Chahal and Ashwin.
In contrast, the four overs of spin bowled by Dagar and Himanshu went for 63.
