"His strike rate is around 130": Cricket has moved on from Virat Kohli's template, says Tom Moody

Virat Kohli became the first batter in IPL history to score more than 7000 runs yesterday.

Former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody said that cricket has moved on from Royal Challengers Bangalore star batter Virat Kohli’s template of batting after his 46-ball 55 against the Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2023 match on Saturday at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi.

While Kohli kept one end occupied, Mahipal Lomror hammered the DC bowlers, scoring 54 runs in just 29 balls.  RCB put on the final total of 181/4 in 20 overs. However former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody has said the modern T20 game cannot afford the way Virat Kohli bats.

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo Moody said, “Will always have this debate because it is the Virat Kohli template. It’s the way he bats. His career strike rate is around 130. His ability to continue to churn out runs is quite extraordinary.

But maybe he also felt that whilst the other end was flying along, his role was to feed that other end. But in my view, particularly with the impact player, the game has really moved on from that style of cricket. That’s why we are seeing so many totals go to 200+. There is no such role. We all need to be going here at 150+ without a doubt because we have the comfort of depth.”

“But did they get as many as they could have? If he took his foot a little off the brake and went with Lomror, and tried to target a boundary an over himself, we will never know,” Moody added.

Apart from these two, captain Faf du Plessis also made 45 runs.

RCB get hammered by Phil Salt and company

However, in the chase, Phil Salt Hammer the RCB bowling all parts of Delhi ground.  He made 87 runs in just 45 balls.  Apart from him, Mitchell Marsh made 26 runs and Riley Russouw made 35 not out as Delhi Capitals reach their target in just 16.3 overs and won the match by seven wickets.

This win gives the DC team alive in the race for the playoffs in the ongoing IPL 2023.