Virat Kohli cites MS Dhoni as example, tears apart "strike rate" critics

Virat Kohli has faced criticism about his intent and strike rate in the ongoing IPL 2024.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are all set to take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match No. 68 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium on May 18. It will be a must-win encounter for both the sides as the winners will make it to the playoffs.

Prior to the game, RCB star Virat Kohli has hit back at the critics who have been targeting his strike rate and approach in the ongoing season.

Former Bengaluru skipper Kohli has been criticized many times for his strike rate and intent in T20 cricket. However, in the ongoing IPL 2024 the 35-year-old batter has once again faced criticism about his strike rate in the first half of the ongoing tournament, but Kohli has hit them back by responding with the bat.

In the ongoing IPL 2024, the right-handed batter Kohli has smashed 661 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 155.16. which is higher than his IPL career strike rate of 131.80. The star batter has hammered five fifties and one century till now. 

Despite performing well, Kohli has faced constant criticism about his strike rate by some of the commentary panel in the ongoing tournament.

I don’t need to react to any external noise: Virat Kohli slams his critics

In a latest interview on JioCinema, the former RCB captain slammed his critics and said that he does not need to react to any external noise and added that he is well aware about his ability.

“I don’t need to react to any external noise. I know what I can do on the ground. I don’t need to tell anyone what kind of player I am or what my ability is. I’ve never asked anyone how to win a match. I’ve learnt this by figuring it out myself in the middle of the ground by failing from experience,” Virat Kohli said.

It’s not a by-chance thing when you’re repeatedly winning matches for the team. For someone to see and analyse a moment and for another player to experience that moment in the middle are two completely different things. I have never felt that I should go and tell someone not to say certain things about me. I know what I can do out there,” Kohli added.

Virat Kohli gives MS Dhoni’s regarding his strike rate’s critics

Kohli also slammed his critics by citing MS Dhoni as an example. Kohli added that many cricket pundits used to talk about Dhoni’s strike rate and why he is taking the game deep. Kohli further added that only Dhoni knew why he did it, and we all know how many games he has won for India by taking matches as deep as possible. 

“People used to say the same about Mahi bhai (Mahendra Singh Dhoni). ‘Why is he taking the game to 20th over or 50th over?’ But how many matches did he finish for India! He’s probably the only person who knows what he’s doing! And he’s finishing the game from there,” Kohli added.

“For me, that’s muscle memory. He knows if he takes the match till the last over, he’ll win the game. My mindset was different. I used to think let’s finish the game in the 49th over (in ODIs) or 19th over (in T20s). If he was batting with me at the end, then the thinking was different. He will take the game into the last over where the opposition team is shivering in fear,” Kohli further added.

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