In the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), Virat Kohli flaunted another side to his game. He completed the season with the best strike pace of any IPL season, at 154.70. Right off the bat in the season, there was debate around Kohli’s strike rate, which drove the previous Indian captain to deliberately keep his strike rate higher all through his innings.
Early Criticism and Turnaround
One of the notable critics of Kohli’s strike rate was former New Zealand fast bowler and commentator Simon Doull. Initially critical, Doull later reversed his stance, acknowledging Kohli as the best batter of the season. He also shared insights on the repercussions of criticizing a player with Kohli’s massive following in India.
“I see a phenomenal player, a player who should be dominating more than he was. That’s what I talk about when I mention his strike rate. I felt that he was afraid to get out because he was worried about what was behind him rather than saying, ‘I’m so good’.
It is the same thing I said about Babar. I had a chat with him after I talked about it in Pakistan, and he said that his coaches told him the same thing. What I loved about Kohli this year was the intent to hit sixes,” Doull said on Cricbuzz.
Also read: MS Dhoni on Fear and Pressure: Essential Elements for Courage and Decision-Making
The Impact of Criticism
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Doull emphasized that his intent was to highlight that Kohli, given his talent, should not worry about getting out. He admitted that his comments were perhaps perceived negatively, leading to severe backlash from Kohli’s fans.
“He is too good to worry about getting out and that was always my point. I have said a thousand great things about Virat Kohli but I say one thing negative or construed to be negative, and I get death threats. That’s the shame of it,” Doull remarked.
Despite the criticism, Doull shared that he has had positive conversations with Kohli whenever they interact. He noted the evolution of the game, particularly with the introduction of the impact substitute, making a strike rate of 130–135 less effective.
“There has never been an issue and I would never have a reason to have personal problems. When I look at the game and the way it has moved, particularly with the impact sub, a strike rate of 130–135 didn’t cut it any more,” he added.
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Kohli’s Stellar Performance
Kohli finished the season as the Orange Cap winner, amassing 741 runs at a strike rate of 154.70 and an average of 61.75, including five centuries and one half-century. He hit 38 sixes, matching his highest single-season tally from 2016 and surpassing his total from the last three seasons combined.
“What he did this year, I loved it. He took the bowling on. He played the slog sweep, which we didn’t see much of. He is never going to have the fire. I thought about it afterward and decided that maybe he does thrive on it. What else has he got to thrive on? After 17 years of giving the game everything he has given, he needs something to spur him on.”
And if I can do that from an Indian cricket point of view, that is good. I love coming to this country and working here. If I can spur him on in some way, then good on him for turning around and trying to prove people like me wrong. Because that is just an opinion, I get paid for mine,” Doull concluded.
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