IPL 2024: Legendary Wasim Akram strongly defends Virat Kohli amidst debate surrounding his strike rate, says 'he is under pressure even now'

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) achieved a four-wicket win over the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 52nd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. In this match, RCB was chasing a target of 148, and Virat Kohli played a pivotal role, scoring a brisk 42 runs off just 27 balls at a strike rate of 155.56 on May 4. This performance effectively silenced critics who had previously questioned his strike rate.

In support of Kohli, several former cricketers and experts have commented that he is scoring well according to the match situation. Adding to this, former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram also defended Kohli amidst ongoing discussions about his strike rate. Akram highlighted that Virat Kohli has faced undue pressure because other RCB batters have failed to contribute significantly.

“What criticism is he getting? That his team is losing. If the guy is scoring 100 at 150 strike rate, isn't it fine? If the team had won, there wouldn't have been criticism. Kohli was under pressure when he was captain, and he is under pressure even now. He is scoring, but one player cannot win the match. Criticising him unnecessarily... it's not fair. In the long run, Kohli has a lot of cricket left, RCB will have to think why their performances were so inconsistent even after 16 years. Their batting is still fine, but their bowlers are weak," Akram said on Sportskeeda.

 

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Virat Kohli is currently the leading run-scorer in this season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), having amassed 542 runs in eleven matches at a strike rate of 148.08. Wasim Akram also discussed the role of an anchor in the T20 format, noting that although this role is often overlooked as batters aim to hit aggressively from the first ball, it remains crucial in constructing a team's innings effectively.

 

"If you look at this IPL, it feels like it's over. The way teams are scoring 270s, it looks like it. People are calling an anchor slow even when the strike rate is 150. When you look at the pitches and the performances, it looks like it. You got to hit from the first ball, you can't stop," Akram added.

 

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