'He is genius, he just has to decide...': RCB coach burns all questions around Virat Kohli's spin struggles ahead of match vs DC

Ahead of their upcoming match against Delhi Capitals (DC), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) spin bowling coach Malolan Rangarajan spoke highly of the superstar batter Virat Kohli's improvement in his approach and execution against spin bowling compared to the previous season.

Virat Kohli is set to return to his home city of Delhi, the place where he grew up and where the foundations of his illustrious cricketing career were laid. This homecoming coincides with a revenge match against Delhi Capitals, scheduled to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 27. Kohli is currently a leading contender for the Orange Cap, occupying the second position with an impressive tally of 392 runs in nine matches. He boasts a remarkable average of 65.33 and a striking strike rate of 144.11, having already notched up five half-centuries, with his highest score being an unbeaten 73.

ALSO READ: GT captain Shubman Gill finally breaks silence on relationship status, says 'for over three years...'

During the pre-match press conference, Malolan Rangarajan addressed discussions surrounding Virat Kohli's struggles against spin. He stated that it would be inaccurate to solely focus on Virat's game against spin and his overall strike rate from the previous season, implying that there has been a positive shift in these aspects of his batting.

"It was not only Virat last season who was not batting at the desired strike rate. It was the whole team. So I think the whole team got together. And that is precisely what happened. That is part one," said Malolan in the pre-match press conference.

"Part two is about Virat Kohli as the individual. He does not need to go and practice extra against left-arm spin and leg spin. He's batted for 20-25 years. He is a genius. He just has to decide what he wants to do and how he wants to take down a particular bowler," he added.

Rangarajan expressed his admiration for Kohli's relentless pursuit of improvement, even after such a long and distinguished career in cricket. He lauded Kohli's continuous efforts to evolve and enhance his game.

Reflecting on Kohli's performance in the initial six matches of the 2024 season, he had amassed an impressive 319 runs at a robust average of 79.75, including a century and two half-centuries. However, his strike rate of approximately 141 during this period drew considerable criticism from both fans and cricket analysts. The prevailing sentiment was that his somewhat cautious approach, particularly when facing spin bowlers, was potentially hindering Royal Challengers Bengaluru's overall scoring rate and momentum.

However, Kohli responded to the earlier criticism by upping his game, particularly against spin bowling. He began to effectively utilise the slog sweep and demonstrated a greater propensity for hitting sixes. In the subsequent nine matches of that season, he amassed 422 runs at a commendable average of 52.75, including three half-centuries. Notably, his strike rate experienced a dramatic surge to approximately 166, marking a substantial positive change in his scoring tempo. By the end of the season, he had equaled his best-ever tally of 38 sixes, a feat he had previously achieved in his phenomenal 2016 season, where he scored 952 runs with four centuries and seven fifties. This aggressive approach played a pivotal role in RCB's stunning turnaround in their campaign. After a dismal start with only one win in their first eight matches, they went on an impressive six-match winning streak, securing a place in the playoffs, where they eventually lost to Rajasthan Royals in the eliminator.

Kohli ultimately finished the season as the holder of the Orange Cap, awarded to the highest run-scorer, with an impressive total of 741 runs in 15 matches. He maintained an excellent average of 61.75 and a striking strike rate of 154.69, which included one century and five half-centuries.

Talking about the ongoing season, Virat Kohli has continued to evolve his T20 game, proving that his retirement from international T20 matches after India's T20 World Cup victory last year has not diminished his desire to improve. Notably, his strike rate against spin bowling in the current season stands at 140.57, which is an improvement compared to the 137.08 he recorded in the previous season. His effectiveness against slow left-arm spin has shown even more significant progress, increasing to a strike rate of 142.42 this year, up from 124.70 in the last season. To provide further context, in other IPL seasons during this decade, his strike rate against slow left-arm spin was 112.30 (in 2023), 102.08 (in 2022), 95.77 (in 2021), and 94.02 (in 2020), highlighting the continuous efforts he has made to enhance this aspect of his batting.