Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Virat Kohli exhibited a masterclass in batting during their recent match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2024. Kohli’s scintillating 92 runs off just 47 balls propelled RCB to a commanding victory, showcasing his adaptability and dominance in the T20 format. Let’s delve into the expert reactions to Kohli’s stellar performance:
- Harbhajan Singh: The former cricketer emphasized Kohli’s ability to capitalize on opportunities, highlighting the consequences of giving chances to a player of his caliber.
“If you repeatedly give chances to such a player, he won’t spare you. What a knock it was – 92 runs off 47 balls. He played the T20 format in the true sense today. It was destructive batting.”
2. Tom Moody: Moody lauded Kohli’s strategic approach against spin, particularly noting his effective use of sweep shots to unsettle the opposition bowlers.
“We talk about the sweep slog, how he’s brought that back out against spin, and hasn’t that been a really effective weapon for him in those middle overs. And when the opposition tries to bring spin in the powerplay, he brings that out and puts them under immediate pressure and that puts them under another area of scoring from the backfoot. So this is some really good insight on how this genius operates.”
3. Aakash Chopra: Known for his quirky analogies, Chopra humorously compared Kohli’s batting to turning opponents into “bharta,” stressing the repercussions of dropping catches against such a formidable player.
“If you give Virat Kohli one lifeline, he makes your bharta (mashes you) if you are a brinjal. If you give him two lifelines, you seldom live to tell the tale, and that’s what happened. Dharamsala’s hills are super cool and Virat Kohli in this match was paisa vasool (worth the money). How well he batted, everyone should applaud him along with me.”
4. Anil Kumble: Kumble attributed Kohli’s exceptional form to a well-deserved break before IPL 2024, expressing optimism about his performance in the upcoming T20 World Cup for India.
“He’s been in outstanding form. He had a break coming into this IPL, and since then, he’s been relentless in his pursuit of excellence. For India’s sake, you’d want his form to continue in the World Cup as well.”
5. Sourav Ganguly: The BCCI president endorsed Kohli’s opening role for India in the T20 World Cup, impressed by his recent displays in the IPL and advocating for leveraging his form at the top of the batting order.
“Virat is playing exceptionally well. The way Kohli batted last night – 90 in quick time, you need to use him as opener in T20 World Cup. He should open, evidenced by his last few IPL innings which have been outstanding.”
Kohli’s consistent brilliance has sparked discussions on his optimal position in the batting lineup, with Ganguly advocating for his promotion as an opener. As anticipation builds for the T20 World Cup, Kohli’s form remains a key factor in India’s prospects on the global stage.
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