NEW DELHI: Former Australian cricketer
Aaron Finch
has come to the defense of
Virat Kohli
‘s
strike rate
amidst scrutiny, emphasizing the broader context of his partnership with
Rajat Patidar
. Finch’s perspective sheds light on the strategic nuances of Kohli’s innings, offering a counterpoint to the criticism levied by cricketing legend
Sunil Gavaskar
.
In an analysis on Star Sports, Finch delved into Kohli’s role within the batting lineup, stressing the significance of his partnership with Patidar.
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“I think it is a combination of a few things here. Yes, he got off to an absolute flier. But after the powerplay, he dropped to 19 from 25. But one thing you have to keep in mind is that Patidar was going crazy at the other end. Sometimes your job as a set batter is to take the game a little bit deeper and get Patidar on strike as much as possible. That’s where the intent to hit boundaries goes out,” Finch remarked, advocating for a comprehensive understanding of Kohli’s contribution beyond mere numbers.
However, Gavaskar’s commentary during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad echoed concerns over Kohli’s strike rate. Despite acknowledging Kohli’s status as the highest scorer for
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
, Gavaskar questioned the efficacy of his approach in the fast-paced format of the game.
“When you are facing the strike in the first ball of the innings and you get out in the 14th or the 15th over, you have got a strike rate of 118, that’s not what your team expects from you,” Gavaskar remarked on air, highlighting the need for a balance between aggression and stability.
The contrasting perspectives from Finch and Gavaskar underscore the complexity of evaluating batting performances in cricket. While Finch emphasizes the strategic considerations behind Kohli’s innings, Gavaskar’s critique reflects broader concerns over the tempo and impact of Kohli’s batting on the team’s overall performance.
“You can look at him in isolation and say, ‘Yes, it dropped’. But as a partnership, it worked really well. Because the last thing you want when you’re on fire is to be stuck at the non-striker’s end a lot. He did the right thing by getting Patidar up there,” Finch added to back his points.
Despite the debate surrounding Kohli’s strike rate, Royal Challengers Bengaluru managed to secure a crucial victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Kohli’s partnership with Patidar playing a pivotal role in the team’s batting performance.