Virat Kohli’s batting decoded ahead of T20 World Cup 2024: Is he really weak against spin? , cricket news

It’s that time of the year again. As the ICC T20 World Cup squad announcement for India draws closer, the buzz around star batsman Virat Kohli’s strike rate and approach in T20 cricket has once again become the top of all possible discussions around the team, its players and the overall balance. Is in the centre. it. Virat currently leads the IPL 2024 run charts, having scored 500 runs in 10 matches at an average of 71.42 and a strike rate of over 147 with one century and four half-centuries. His best score is 113*. He is also the leading 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 is 113*. Virat has scored eight centuries and 54 half-centuries.

The superstar batsman has also been a different beast in the ICC T20 World Cup, 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, scoring 13 half-centuries in 27 matches. And 25 innings. He also won ‘Player of the Tournament’ honors in 2014 and 2016 for his performances. In the tournament, Virat has a history of bringing his full A game against Pakistan, during run-chases and ultimately during the knockout games, where he has always scored half-centuries.

Despite all the stats, Virat’s recent T20 form, strike rate and overall approach has created mixed debates. While many believe that his slightly conservative, anchor-like style involving calculated risks is irrelevant in modern T20, many cricketers, experts, media and fans still cite his tendency to perform under pressure, his tendency to accelerate Are with the batsman because of his ability. And anchors as per needs and has great stats. With the constant talk around Virat, there is a need to look at his numbers.

Let’s take a look at his IPL play this season and in the past, from the middle overs to all phases and styles of bowling, where Virat is said to often slow down and take fewer risks, especially against spin.

Middle overs (7-16 overs): According to ESPN Cricinfo, Virat’s middle-overs strike rate in IPL 2024 is 137.17, his highest since his peak year in 2016, in which he scored 973 runs. This year he has scored 214 runs in 156 balls in this stage and has been out four times, taking his average to 53.50. Of these, 14 balls have been sent for four while eight have been sent into the sky for six. He has played 40 dot balls in this phase this year. His middle overs strike rates during these years were: 133.96 (2023), 115.21 (2022), 106.53 (2021), 108.10 (2020) and 118.60 (2019). At his peak in 2016, he scored at an SR of 150.76 in the middle overs, scoring 490 runs in 325 balls with 37 fours, 18 sixes and 68 dot balls. In 2016, Virat was out five times at this stage, taking his average to 98.00.

Against spin-bowling in the middle overs this year, Virat has hit an SR of 138.4. He has scored 144 runs from 104 balls, having been dismissed only once by the spinners at this stage. He has hit six fours and seven sixes and played 24 dots against spin in this phase. 56 of his runs have come through singles. This strike rate of 138.46 is actually his best in years, the last few years against spin at this stage have been 110.48 (2023), 105.55 (2022), 101.03 (2021), 105.17 (2020) and 111.53 (2019). Even in 2016, his SR in the middle overs against spin was slightly lower at 137.23. His all-time high SR against spin in overs 7–15 was in 2015, with a score of 157.42, scoring 159 runs from 101 balls with nine fours, 10 sixes and 28 dot balls. 45 runs came from singles and the rest from doubles and triples.

His pace in the middle overs has declined compared to last year, when he was striking at 170.58, his all-time highest against pace at this stage. This year, his SR against pace in the middle overs is 134.61, he has scored 70 runs in 52 balls, which included eight fours, one six, 16 dot balls and 22 runs came through singles. Even in 2016, Virat’s SR against pace at this stage was 169.34, in which he scored 232 runs in 137 balls with 21 fours, nine sixes, 28 dots and 65 singles. The remaining runs came via doubles and triples. Apart from 2023 and 2016, his SR against pace in the middle overs has never touched the 150 mark.

Now, the focus is on Virat’s two strengths, which are his ability to give his team explosive starts during the power-play and his ability to completely let loose during the death overs.

Power-Play (1-6 overs):This year, in power-play, Virat has scored runs at a strike rate of 154.43. He has scored 244 runs in 158 balls with the help of 29 fours, 10 sixes and 58 dot balls. 54 runs came from singles and the rest from doubles and triples. Even in the powerplay, Virat’s numbers have improved massively over the years and are, in fact, at an all-time high. Earlier in the last five seasons, he had scored at the speeds of 136.81, 116.78, 130.27, 109.45 and 138.95.

During his peak year in 2016, his strike rate in the power-play was 119.55. He scored 269 runs in 225 balls with the help of 29 fours and six sixes. He played 87 dots during this phase and scored 91 runs through singles and the rest through doubles and triples.

Death overs (17-20 overs):This year, Virat has scored at a very good strike rate during the death overs, mainly because he never got a chance to play much in this phase or he lacked support at the other end. His SR at the time of death this year is 168.00. He has faced 25 balls in this phase this year and scored 42 runs with the help of three fours and two sixes. He has played five dots in this phase and taken 12 runs through singles and the rest through doubles and triples.

However, last year Virat’s death overs strike rate was 216.00 and he scored 54 runs in 25 balls with the help of four fours and four sixes. He played five dots, scored 10 runs through singles and the remaining runs through doubles and triples. Before this, in the last five seasons, Virat’s strike rate has been 216.00, 115.78, 100.00, 205.88 and 266.66.

Virat’s strike rate in the death overs is his strongest feature, having remained above 200 for eight seasons, including figures of 241.17 in 2016 and 266.66 in 2015.

*Type of bowling

Total SR against speed:Virat’s overall strike rate against Paes in IPL 2024 is 157.69. He has scored 287 runs in 182 runs, in which 35 fours, 10 sixes, 61 dots, 65 singles and the remaining runs have been scored through doubles and triples. His SR against pace in the last five seasons have been: 163 (his all-time highest against pace), 120, 132.19, 135.16, 146.77. Apart from 2024 and 2023, his SR against the pace reached 150 on three occasions in 2010, 2016 and 2018.

Overall SR against spin:His strike rate against spin this year has been: 135.66. He has scored 213 runs in 157 balls against the spinners this year, in which 11 fours, 10 sixes, 42 dots, 79 singles and the remaining runs have been scored through doubles and triples. In the last five seasons, Virat’s total SR against spin has been: 113.46, 108.08, 100.00, 108.91 and 130.14. His strike rate against spin was best in the 2016 season, where he averaged 152.30, and in the 2015 season, where he averaged 151.21 against spin bowling.