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The recent slump in Virat Kohli‘s strike rate has sparked a public debate between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batter and the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
Virat Kohli Hits Back at Critics
Just a few days ago, Kohli, without directly mentioning names, took a swipe at critics who have questioned his strike rate. This was widely seen as a response to Gavaskar’s comments following a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where Kohli scored a 43-ball 51.
Gavaskar has now responded, clarifying that commentators simply analyze what they see on the field.
“Commentators questioned only when the strike rate was 118. I’m not too sure. I don’t watch too many matches, so I don’t know what the other commentators have said otherwise. But if you have a strike of 118 and then you get out in the 14th or the 15th with a strike-rate of 118, I mean, if you want applause for that, that’s a little bit different. That’s different,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports before RCB’s clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The Spark of the Debate
Gavaskar had earlier criticized Kohli’s performance against SRH, pointing out a lack of boundaries after a decent start and a strike rate that didn’t benefit the team in a crucial middle-order position.
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Kohli’s Counterpoint
Following a well-played 70* off 44 balls against Gujarat Titans, Kohli delivered a response seemingly directed at Gavaskar and others who criticize his strike rate. He highlighted his focus on fulfilling his role for the team and the team’s shift towards a more aggressive approach.
The Noise of Criticism
While Kohli has spoken about ignoring outside noise, Gavaskar questioned this stance in light of his reaction to criticism. Gavaskar suggested that if players choose to disregard commentary, they shouldn’t feel compelled to respond publicly.
“When you talk about all these guys talk about, oh we don’t care about outside noise, acha. Then why are you replying to any outside noise or whatever it is. We all played a bit of cricket, not a lot of cricket. We don’t have agendas. We speak about what we see. We don’t necessarily have any likes and dislikes. Even if we have likes and dislikes, we actually speak on what is happening,” he added.
The Debate Continues
This exchange between Kohli and Gavaskar highlights the ongoing debate surrounding strike rate in modern cricket. While both men have valid points, the discussion is likely to continue as fans and pundits analyze Kohli’s performances and the evolving role of the middle order in T20 cricket.