Lara Shares Honest Opinion On Virat Kohli For T20 WC; Ridiculous Strike Rate Debate
Virat Kohli is striking at over 146 this IPL 2024 season (AP)
Virat Kohli continues to cope much criticism from fans for his strike-rate this IPL 2024 season for the RCB. The cricketer recently shaped 113* runs off 72 balls against Rajasthan Royals to record the joint-slowest century in the history of IPL.
Several fans and IPL enthusiasts soon took to social media and trolled Kohli for his slow batting, with some even alleging that the legendary RCB opener was putting his run-scoring interests over the team’s winning cause.
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Contrary to constant social media trolling, the 35-year-old has managed to maintain a staggering strike-rate of 146.29 this season. Moreover, Virat Kohli is also the current recipient of the coveted ‘Orange Cap’ with 316 runs to his name from five innings.
Amidst much debate involving his strike-rate, former West Indies captain and all-time great Brian Lara has backed the legendary Indian batter for his run-scoring pedigree at the top of the order.
Moreover, Lara is also of the opinion that Kohli should be opening the innings for Team India alongside Rohit Sharma in this year’s impending T20 World Cup 2024.
Brian Lara on Virat Kohli’s strike-rate, T20 WC spot
While speaking on the Star Sports press room, Brian Lara defended Virat Kohli’s batting strike-rate of 146.19 considering the RCB icon bats at the top of the order.
“The strike rate depends on position, and for an opener strike-rate of 130-140 is pretty alright. But if you are coming in the middle-order then you may be required to hit at 150 or 160. As you have seen in this IPL, batsmen are hitting at 200 in the latter part of an innings.”
Brian Lara also believes that Team India should employ Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as their openers for this year’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies in June.
The cricketer-turned-coach further picked Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill to constitute India’s top three for the multi-nation tournament alongside Kohli and Sharma. He added:
“India's top three in the World Cup should be Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill irrespective of all these. I think Rohit and Virat going as openers to the West Indies (for WC) will serve India very well.”
Decade-long national teammates Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are slated to go up against each other in match number 25 of the IPL 2024 season on April 11 through Mumbai Indians’ home game against RCB.
Shubman Gill, on the other hand, will be seen leading his Gujarat Titans group against Rajasthan Royals on April 10.
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