Wasim Akram gives his take on Virat Kohli’s strike-rate debate. Virat Kohli’s strike rate has been a topic of conversation during the ongoing IPL 2024, with some pundits asking whether the shorter format of the game has eliminated the requirement for an anchor hitter.
Indian star batsman Virat Kohli’s strike-rate has been a source of conversation in the ongoing IPL 2024, with some experts asking whether the game’s shorter format has eliminated the necessity for an anchor batter. Pakistani veteran Wasim Akram has weighed in on the topic, passionately defending Kohli’s strategy.
The debate about Kohli’s strike rate arose after he retaliated against critics who criticized his relatively steady starts. The former Indian captain detailed how this strategy helped him win games for 15 years. Sunil Gavaskar slammed the move, claiming that analyzing what they see is part of the work of a commentator.
However, Akram believes the criticism of Kohli’s strike rate is unwarranted. In his opinion, the true issue is the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) losing streak, not how quickly Kohli gets going.
“What criticism is he receiving? His team is losing. Isn’t it fine if the guy scores 100 with a strike rate of 150? If the team had won, there would have been no criticism. Kohli was under pressure as captain and continues to be so. “He is scoring, but one player cannot win the game,” Wasim Akram told Sportskeeda.
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People say that the ground is short: Wasim Akram
The legendary left-arm bowler believes RCB should develop a more balanced side that can handle the small boundaries at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“Some individuals claim that the ground is short. But you already know that. Select players solely based on this criteria. It’s the same venue where I played a Test in 1987. “It’s the same ground now,” he explained.
Akram also shared his thoughts on the function of the anchor batter in T20 cricket. He believes the game has altered since teams often score more over 270 runs in the IPL.
“Looking at the IPL, it feels like it’s over. It appears to be the case based on how teams score 270s. People describe an anchor as slow even when the strike rate is 150. The pitches and performances appear to support this. You have to hit from the first ball; you can’t stop,” Akram said.
Though Kohli’s strike rate has received a lot of attention, he remains the leading run-getter in the ongoing season, with 542 runs in 11 games at an average of 67.75 and a strike rate of 148.08.”From being sixth or seventh in the world, we developed into a team capable of competing in the World Test Championship Final. I tried to make the best of a bad situation, to control what I could. But my form deteriorated,” Elgar concluded.
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