IPL 2024 PBKS v RCB: Virat Kohli speaks on his strike rate, momentum after his 92 against PBKS

There has been a lot of brouhaha on Virat Kohli’s strike rate in the ongoing Indian Premier League. While experts opined that Kohli was a tad slow to the demands of the modern game, the star batter answered all his critics in style when he scored at a rate of 196 to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a massive 241/7 in 20 overs against Punjab Kings at Dharamsala on Thursday.

Kohli, aided by two dropped catches early on, looked solid as he scored a sublime 92 off just 47 balls (7 fours, 6 sixes) to lay a strong foundation for RCB.

Speaking during the mid-innings break, Kohli said he wanted to take on the momentum. “It was important to keep up my strike-rate through the innings (laughs) and so I wanted to take on the momentum. It was a tricky phase when Rajat (Patidar) got out, we were three down and the rain came in. So we needed a bit of time to settle but once Cameron and I did, I thought 'I have to go again’,” he said.

RCB scored 119 runs for the loss of three wickets in 10 overs before rain and a hailstorm forced the players to scurry into the dugout. After the rain interruption, especially with the outfield being a tad wet, RCB scored 122 runs in the last 10 overs, losing four wickets.

Kohli said the wicket was two-paced and while it was tough to negate the swing early on, it became easy for batters to go after the bowlers once they settled. “The wicket was a bit two-paced, the ones pitching on the grassy ones were skidding on,” he said.

The former RCB captain said rookie bowler Vidwath Kaverappa, who made his Indian Premier League debut on Thursday, has an advantage of his height and lauded his efforts with the new ball. “(It is) Difficult to analyse in just one game. He has some swing but when new it is tough to figure them out early. He has a good height and swing. Kudos to him for starting well with the new ball, but by the fourth over the swing was gone,” Kohli said.