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Virat Kohli's strike rate once again became an issue after he scored 55 runs from 46 innings against Delhi Capitals (DC) in a losing cause on May 6. As the anchor debate in T20 cricket continues to rage on, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has advised the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener to don't change his tempo because of lack of form of middle-order batters. Kohli also gave DC opener Phil Salt's example who did not slow down and continued to hit big despite an out-of-form middle order barring Axar Patel.
"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.
"It took the pressure off the other batsmen. Having said, even they were hammering whether it was Marsh or Roussow. So that is something that could be there from Virat's point of view. If he gets going don't change your tempo, try and up the ante," Shastri was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
Former Australian cricketer Tom Moody weighed in on the debate as well. Former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) head coach feels that the introduction of 'impact player' has ruled out the need to bat deep for a top-order batter.
"That's why we are seeing so many totals go to 200+. There is no such role. We all need to be going here at 150+ without a doubt because we have the comfort of depth," Moody said.
Earlier, Kohli had defended his approach to T20 cricket after a 44-ball 61 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
"There are many people who because they have not been in that situation themselves, they look at the game differently.
"Suddenly when the powerplay is done, they will be like 'oh, they have started rotating the strike'. When you haven't lost a wicket in the powerplay, usually the best player comes on to bowl, you are trying to figure out what to do against him in the first two overs, so that you can get big ones in the last two overs of that guy and then rest of the innings become much easier," the former RCB skipper had said.
Kohli is one of the top contenders for the Orange Cap this season. He has scored 419 runs from 10 innings at an average of 46.56 including six half-centuries> He has scored at a strike rate of 135.16.
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