‘Why is he getting cooked for appreciating Kohli’s intent’- Fans react to Harsha Bhogle’s assessment of Virat Kohli’s inning vs Afghanistan in Indore T20I
Virat Kohli’s T20 international comeback yesterday electrified the cricket world. His 14-month absence had only amplified anticipation, and his mere presence ignited a spark. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, […]
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Jan 15, 2024 7:49 pm
Virat Kohli’s T20 international comeback yesterday electrified the cricket world. His 14-month absence had only amplified anticipation, and his mere presence ignited a spark. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, every eye was fixed on Kohli, and he delivered epically. Kohli’s knock wasn’t just about the numbers – 29 off 16 at a strike rate north of 180. It was about how he approached the innings. He adapted, ditching his usual game to fit the T20 format. He wasn’t afraid to take risks, and crucially, he looked extremely comfortable at the crease. This wasn’t just a cameo, it was a statement of intent, a glimpse of Kohli in his zone.
With the target not being big and the surface being a belter, Kohli could have easily stuck to his usual template of taking the game deep. However, the great man shunned his approach and instead put the Afghan bowlers under pressure right from the get-go. Another point which stood out was his game against spin. Kohli’s troubles against spin are well-documented and so, over the last few years, we have been used to seeing Kohli play spin with caution. But not yesterday. Kohli instead danced down the crease and played some elegant shots against them.
Harsha Bhogle (Source: Twitter)
“It is admirable that at this stage of his career…” Harsha Bhogle
Cricket icon Harsha Bhogle chimed in on Twitter this morning, applauding Virat Kohli’s knock vs Afghanistan. Bhogle acknowledged that while some might yearn for bigger numbers, given Kohli’s past feats, it’s crucial to look beyond the score and embrace the impact he delivered. Impressed by Kohli’s willingness to adapt and refine his game even at this stage, Bhogle saw the innings as a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence.
“Kohli’s innings of 29(16) will draw diverse comments because of his stature. From a T20 perspective, it was exactly the kind of innings a team wants. One of six batters scored more than a sixth of the runs at a SR > asking rate. But because he is a great player, we expect more and think it was underwhelming. A 29(16) from Jaiswal or Gill will be more acceptable though it should really be seen the same way. The 29(16) approach will produce, say a 60(33) a few times. It is admirable that at this stage of his career Kohli is actually challenging himself in the shortest form. 29(16) is a better innings than 50(40) in a 170+ run chase,” he wrote on the micro-blogging site.
Here’s a look at how ‘X-verse’ reacted to Bhogle’s tweet:
More than runs his intent👌. He is very versatile batter can adapt to any situation. Yes 29(16) in 170+ run chase is way better than 50(40).
Kohli can play every role in t20i cricket. He can open, he can anchor, he can finish. He can play with intent. Why not focus on others who are literally struggling to score even one run 😭
Kohli has done it almost everytime. His SR is around 140. Many a times he tries to hold one end & accelerate at the last, to produce miraculous results like he did against Pak in WC.
Mindless hitting won’t win you matches against tough opponents & on good pitches unlike Roads…
But I'm wondering when the conditions will be tough to bat then this positive approach can hurt India. That's why one of the top batters should look to play according to the situation.
