Michael Vaughan, former England skipper, has come to the defense of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli amidst criticism over his slow approach during the middle overs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Despite Kohli’s impressive performance, with 279 runs and an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 142.35, the 34-year-old is being targeted for his strike rate.
Vaughan believes that Kohli, being as good as he is, can easily increase his strike rate and needs to have more confidence in himself to do so. He suggested that Kohli look to younger players such as Shubman Gill for inspiration, who has been chasing Kohli down the rails.
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In a recent interview with Robin Uthappa on Jio Cinema, Kohli defended his slower approach, stating that the ‘anchor role’ is still important in T20s and that he plays based on team situations rather than focusing on his strike rate. The RCB captain also stressed that he always plays for his team and not for himself.
RCB will face off against the Rajasthan Royals on April 23rd, and fans will be eagerly watching to see if Kohli can deliver a stronger performance. Despite the criticism, Kohli remains one of the top batters in the IPL and is sure to bounce back with renewed determination.