Kohli Unveils New Strategy Against Spin Bowling Ahead of T20 World Cup
Indian cricket sensation, Virat Kohli, maintained his exceptional form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, scoring a remarkable 92 runs off just 47 balls against Punjab Kings on Thursday, 9 May.
Kohli’s performance has seen him extend his lead as the top run-scorer in the IPL, amassing 634 runs in 12 matches, and becoming the first player this season to surpass the 600-run mark.
One of the highlights of his innings was the effective use of the slog sweep against spin bowlers. Kohli discussed the reintroduction of this shot from his repertoire to counter spin bowling.
“I’ve reintroduced the slog-sweep against spinners. I mentally prepared myself for this situation without any specific practice,” Kohli shared after receiving the Player-of-the-Match award.
“I know I can execute it because I’ve done it frequently in the past. I felt the need to take more risks, and this shot, which I used to play regularly, has allowed me to hit off the back foot as well, exposing that side of the field against spin.”
He further added, “This strategy has been a significant factor in this IPL. It requires more conviction and the ability to overcome the fear of getting out. I’ve managed to stay ahead of that thought in this IPL, which has helped me maintain a high strike rate and keep the scoring rate going for the team.”
Despite his impressive run tally, Kohli’s strike rate and his effectiveness against spin bowling have been subjects of recent debates.
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In a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad last month, Kohli faced criticism for his 51 off 43 balls innings, yielding a strike rate of 118.60. He started briskly, scoring 32 runs from his initial 18 balls, but struggled to maintain momentum, managing only 19 runs in the subsequent 25 balls.
However, Kohli bounced back with an unbeaten 82* off 53 balls against Pakistan in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 encounter, demonstrating the effectiveness of the sweep shot against spinners like Noor Ahmad, Rashid Khan, and Sai Kishore.
“All the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones who love talking about this stuff. But for me, it’s just about winning the game for the team. And there’s a reason why you do it for 15 years – because you’ve won games for your teams,” Kohli retorted to his critics.
Kohli’s recent performances signal promising times for the Indian team as they gear up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month in the West Indies and USA.
India’s campaign begins against Ireland on 5 June, followed by a match against Pakistan on 9 June at the newly-constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. They will later face tournament co-hosts USA (12 June) and Canada (15 June) in their Group A matches.
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