“If you are hot keep that going,” Ravi Shastri gives advice to Virat Kohli amid strike rate debate in IPL

His message came after Kohli's 46-ball 55 runs at a mere strike rate of 119.57 against Delhi Capitals.

“If you are hot keep that going,” Ravi Shastri gives advice to Virat Kohli amid strike rate debate in IPL

Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli‘s innings have become the latest discussion of the cricket fraternity. Fans and experts started questioning his slow innings and whether they are apt for the shortest format. On several occasions, he also tried to play the anchor role.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri opined on the matter when asked whether the not-so-good performance of the middle order is prompting Kohli to bat deep. Shastri advised the 34-year-old to not change his tempo and not worry about the underperforming middle orders and the finishers and keep playing his game.

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“Once you gain tempo, don’t change, don’t worry about the others. That will be my message to Virat. Let them do their job. In a T20 game, you don’t need that many batsmen. If you are hot keep that going. Prime example of that was Phil Salt. You saw the way he batted. Once he got into the groove he didn’t let go,” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.

His message came after Kohli’s 46-ball 55 runs at a mere strike rate of 119.57 against Delhi Capitals (DC). Had he played a quick knock, RCB would have added 20-plus runs to the score to take their 181/4 total past the 200-run mark. RCB lost that match by seven wickets after DC chased down the target in just 16.4 overs courtesy of Phil Salt’s 45-ball 87 runs.

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Virat Kohli’s stats in IPL 2023

"If you are hot keep that going," Ravi Shastri gives advice to Virat Kohli over the strike rate debate
Virat Kohli

Kohli collected 419 runs from 10 matches with the highest of an unbeaten 82 at a strike rate of 135.16. He has also smashed six half-centuries but a couple of these fifties have come under slow strike rates. He stands fifth on the list of highest run-scorers which includes names like Faf du Plessis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Devon Conway.

He will next wear the RCB jersey when the team will take on rivals Mumbai Indians on Tuesday (May 9) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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