Virat Kohli scored the most runs in IPL 2024.
South African veteran batsman AB de Villiers believes that Virat Kohli should play smart cricket instead of focusing on increasing his strike rate in the upcoming IPL season. He believes that the support of explosive batsman Phil Salt in the top order will reduce the pressure on him.
Kohli has been performing well for Royal Challengers Bangalore in almost every season of IPL, but in the last two seasons he has faced criticism due to his strike rate. However, the Bangalore franchise has included aggressive batsmen like England’s Salt and Liam Livingstone, Australia’s Tim David and West Indies’ Romario Shepherd in its team for this season of IPL, due to which de Villiers feels that Kohli can play more freely.
AB de Villiers said a big thing in praise of Virat Kohli
“Virat seems to be enjoying his cricket. I don’t think he has to increase his strike rate while batting with Phil Salt,” de Villiers said at the Geostar press room on Tuesday.
He said, “Salt is an aggressive batsman and I think he will take a lot of pressure off Virat. Virat has to continue what he has been doing for so many years. Maintaining control over the game and playing smart cricket. He knows when to go a little ahead and when to slow it down.”
De Villiers, who played 11 IPL seasons for RCB, said that Kohli will have to take charge of the batting department this season. He said. “Virat needs to become the captain of the batting department in this tournament. He really has to play the role of a facilitator and play smart cricket to ensure that there is no collapse in the batting order.”
