In the match between RCB and Punjab Kings on April 20, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis put on their second century opening partnership in IPL 2023, but the Royal Challengers Bangalore innings never got the desired momentum. Kohli and du Plessis took 16.1 overs to score 137, which in the end, put a lot of pressure on their middle order.
Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden said Kohli and du Plessis should not have wasted so many deliveries in the middle overs.
“Can’t waste balls, even when one of these two decides to bat till the last five overs, the other has to go, can’t just be strolling around. They will have to trust their long batting line-up,” Hayden said in commentary during the 14th over of RCB’s innings.
Hayden continued and gave MS Dhoni’s example to highlight the importance of the strike rate in modern-day T20 cricket.
“This is where the matrix of the game is largely not recognisable in terms of batting strike rate. It is so fundamental in T20 cricket, especially at the back end. You talk about the impact players in this IPL, the guys have won matches and sides can never afford to be lured into this false sense of security by batting just securely in partnership. The emphasis will always have to be on scoring quickly. Look at MS Dhoni, who was striking at 400 in one match,” he said.
