Pakistan's white-ball captain Babar Azam has come out in support of his rival cricketer from India, Virat Kohli as the star batter is facing a lot of criticism over his strike rate. Kohli hit the first century of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League during a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals but it was not enough to lead RCB to a stunning win.
Babar Azam backs Virat Kohli
Babar Azam highlighted the importance of strike rate in the shortest format of the game but also how it can differ as per various situations in the match. He even slammed the critics and said they will always demand more from the player no matter how good you are playing.
"Look, strike rate and building an innings, as well as winning a match, are distinct matters. When you win a match, both aspects are addressed. It's a gradual process, understanding how to approach the first six overs and the subsequent ones. I am well aware of my cricketing abilities, knowing precisely what adjustments I need to make. The critical factor is the situation; if it permits, I'll play freely," Babar said on latest episode of Zalmi TV podcast.
"Sometimes, it's perplexing; critics will argue it should be 170 when it's 150, and if I play at 170, they'll demand 200. Every player has their unique style, and I refrain from comparisons," Babar added.
Virat Kohli leading the run charts in IPL 2024
RCB's batting maestro, Virat Kohli is currently leading the run-scoring table in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. So far, Kohli has smashed 316 runs in just 5 matches with an astonishing average of 105.33. He even hit his 8th IPL century during the match against Rajasthan Royals.
However, his soul performance has not been enough to help RCB win matches. Royal Challengers Bengaluru only have one win in five of their matches and are currently stuck on the 9th spot in the points table. Every game from here on is crucial for RCB, they need to win as many as games possible in order to keep their playoff dream alive.
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