Picture Credit: X/IPL
In match 45 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the Gujarat Titans (GT) hosted the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the afternoon clash of double-header Sunday, April 28. After being invited to bat first, the hosts posted 200/3 in their 20 overs.
But RCB in the pursuit of the 201-run target, smashed the GT bowlers all-around the park to seal the match with four overs to be spared. While Virat Kohli played an unbeaten 44-ball 70-run knock, Will Jacks unleashed his prowess to score a 41-ball 100*. The stalwart of the game, Kohli during his stay in the middle smashed six boundaries and three maximums, was once again questioned for his strike rate.
After RCB’s nine-wicket win, Virat Kohli was asked about his strike rate by former cricketer turned commentator Murali Kartik in the post-match presentation. Here the 35-year-old fumed at Kartik as he replied, “There’s a reason why you do it for 15 years, for me, it's only about doing the work, No, not really. All the people who talk anything they want to, they can talk about me not able to push on (all the talks about strike-rate), not playing spin well, but for me it's just about winning the game for the team.”
Watch Virat Kohli getting angry over strike rate:
It is to be noted that Virat Kohli has been criticised by a lot of former cricketers and pundit over his strike rate. While the topic erupted after Junaid Khan shared a post on X, slamming the Indian batter for his poor strike rate. On the other hand, the 35-year-old sits at the top of the Orange Cap race with 500 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 147.49 and average of 71.43.
The Faf du Plessis-led RCB will next take on Gujarat Titans in a reverse fixture at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 4, Saturday.