New Delhi (India), : It’s that time of the year again. As the ICC T20 World Cup squad announcement for India approaches, debates surrounding star batsman Virat Kohli’s strike rate and approach in T20 cricket are once again at the center of possible debates around the team, its players and overall balance. This is
Virat currently tops the IPL 2024 run charts, with 500 runs in 10 matches at an average of 71.42 and a strike rate of over 147, with a century and four fifties. His best score was 113*. He is the highest run-scorer in the history of the league with 7,763 runs at an average of 38.43 and a strike rate of 131.02. His best score was 113*. Virat has scored eight centuries and 54 fifties.
The superstar batsman has been a different beast in the ICC T20 World Cups, where he is the all-time leading run-scorer, with 1,141 runs at an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of 131.30, with 13 fifties in 27 matches. And 25 innings. He was awarded ‘Player of the Tournament’ in 2014 and 2016 for his performances. In the tournament, Virat has a history of bringing his complete A game against Pakistan, during run-chases and last but not least during knockout matches, he has always scored half-centuries.
Despite all the numbers, Virat’s recent T20 form, strike rate and overall approach have generated mixed debates. Although many feel that his somewhat conservative, anchor-like style involving calculated risks is irrelevant in modern-day T20s, the batsman is still favored by many cricketers, pundits, media and fans due to his tendency to perform under pressure, his ability to increase pace. And base according to needs and their good stats. The constant chatter around Virat calls for a look at his numbers.
We take a look at his IPL play across all phases and styles of bowling this season and in the past, starting with the middle overs, where Virat is often said to slow down and take fewer risks, especially against spin.
-According to ESPNcricinfo, Virat’s middle overs strike rate in IPL 2024 is 137.17, which is his highest 973 runs since his peak year in 2016. This year, he scored 214 runs off 156 balls at this stage and was dismissed four times, bringing his average to 53.50. Of these, 14 balls were sent for fours and eight balls were sent skywards for sixes. He has played 40 dot balls at this stage this year. His middle-overs strike rate over the years: 133.96 , 115.21 , 106.53 , 108.10 and 118.60 . At his peak in 2016, he scored at 150.76 SR in the middle overs, scoring 490 runs off 325 balls with 37 fours, 18 sixes and 68 dot balls. Virat was dismissed five times at this stage in 2016, bringing his average to 98.00.
Against spin-bowling in the middle overs this year, Virat has hit at 138.4 SR. He scored 144 runs off 104 balls, getting out just once by the spinners at this stage. At this stage he has hit six fours and seven sixes against spin and played 24 dots. 56 of his runs came through singles. This strike rate of 138.46 is actually his best in years, hitting at 110.48 , 105.55 , 101.03 , 105.17 and 111.53 against spin at this stage. Even in 2016, his SR in the middle overs against spin was slightly lower at 137.23. His all-time highest SR against spin in 7-15 overs was scored at 157.42 in 2015, scoring 159 off 101 balls with nine fours, 10 sixes and 28 dot balls. 45 runs came through singles and the rest through doubles and triples.
His pace in the middle overs has declined compared to last year, when he was hitting at 170.58, his all-time high against pace at this stage. This year, his SR against pace is 134.61 in the middle overs, he has scored 70 runs off 52 balls, with eight fours, one six, 16 dot balls and 22 singles. In 2016, Virat’s SR against pace at this stage was 169.34, scoring 232 runs off 137 balls with 21 fours, nine sixes, 28 dots and 65 singles. The rest of the runs came via doubles and triples. Apart from 2023 and 2016, his SR against pace in the middle overs has not touched 150.
Now, the focus shifts to Virat’s two strengths, his ability to get his team off to a blistering start during the powerplays and allowing his arms to be completely relaxed during the deathovers.
Powerplay: Virat has scored at a strike rate of 154.43 in Powerplay this year. He scored 244 runs off 158 balls with 29 fours, 10 sixes and 58 dot balls. 54 runs came through singles and the rest through doubles and triples. Even in the powerplay, Virat’s numbers have shown massive improvement over the years and are, in fact, at an all-time high. In the last five seasons before this, he batted at 136.81, 116.78, 130.27, 109.45 and 138.95.
In his peak year of 2016, his strike rate in the powerplay was 119.55. Scored 269 runs off 225 balls with 29 fours and six sixes. During this phase he played 87 dots and scored 91 runs through singles and the rest through doubles and triples.
Death Overs : This year, Virat has scored at a decent strike rate during the death overs, either because he hasn’t really got a chance to play much at this stage or he lacks support at the other end. His SR at death this year is 168.00. He faced 25 balls at this stage this year and scored 42 runs with three fours and two sixes. He has played five points at this stage and has scored 12 runs through singles and the rest through doubles and triples.
Last year, Virat’s death overs strike rate was 216.00, scoring 54 runs off 25 balls with four fours and four sixes. He played five spots, scored 10 runs through singles and rested through doubles and triples. Prior to this, Virat’s strike rate in the last five seasons at the death was: 216.00, 115.78, 100.00, 205.88 and 266.66.
Virat’s strongest attribute is his strike rate of over 200 overs in eight seasons, including figures of 241.17 in 2016 and 266.66 in 2015.
*Type of bowling
Overall SR against pace: Virat’s overall strike rate against pace in IPL 2024 is 157.69. He scored 287 runs in 182 runs with 35 fours, 10 sixes, 61 dots, 65 singles and rest of the runs came from doubles and triples. In the previous five seasons: His SR against the speed: 163, 120, 132.19, 135.16, 146.77. Apart from 2024 and 2023, his SR against pace touched 150 on three occasions in 2010, 2016 and 2018.
Overall SR vs Spin: His Strike Rate vs Spin this year: 135.66. He has scored 213 runs against spinners this year off 157 balls with 11 fours, 10 sixes, 42 dots, 79 singles and the remaining runs came through doubles and triples. In the last five seasons, Virat’s overall SR against spin: 113.46, 108.08, 100.00, 108.91 and 130.14. His strike rate against spin was best in the 2016 season where he scored 152.30 and 151.21 against spin bowling in the 2015 season.
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