Question marks over Virat Kohli’s strike-rate and ‘lack of aggression’ over the course of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 have been a raging topic. The discussion has been so intense that even Kohli has to come out all guns blazing to silence his critics. Even as former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was asked if Virat has done enough to cement his place in India’s T20 World Cup team, he almost lost it and said it was a ‘disappointing question’.
“First of all, it is a very disappointing question. This question that is being raised is very disappointing. How can the question be raised whether or not Virat Kohli will get a place in the World Cup?,” Pathan said on Star Sports in response to the question from a fan.
“I am not talking about the strike rate of IPL, we are talking about the Indian selection here,” Irfan asserted in the video while highlighting the importance of keeping players like Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the team at venues where pitches can be quite slow and two-paced.
As a pundit on Star Sports, Irfan has often spoken about Kohli’s strike rate and his struggles to accelerate in the middle overs.
“Talking of specifically for Virat Kohli, you know this innings actually showed the world again that, it doesn’t matter what strike-rate he plays. He wants his team to win, and that’s why sometimes he’s going to play slow, but he always wants to play according to the situation.”
Against the Gujarat Titans, Kohli scored a 44-ball 70 while his partner Wil Jacks slammed a 41-ball 100 to take RCB across the line. In the process, Kohli also went past 500 runs in this campaign, while also wearing the Orange Cap on his head.
“It’s good news for Virat Kohli, good news for RCB, but in long-term, great news for Team India because you know a lot of chatter has been there around for Virat Kohli’s strike-rate and his form. You have to just make it strike-rate plus average. He’s got an orange cap on his hand, 500 runs, outstanding,” said Pathan.
“And I don’t understand where all the talks of strike-rate comes in. It actually disappoints me, to ask you those questions. I’ve been actually talking about it from day one. Don’t question that because he’s a big-match player. He always wins you games. And today look what he did. Look, it was a slow start. He played down the ground really well. He played the slog sweep really well as well. And this shot sweep shot. He doesn’t play that much, but he played all around today, and that is why he’s able to get that success,” Pathan concluded.
