PBKS vs RCB: Watch - "Was important for me to..." - Virat Kohli attacks strike rate critics again post 92-run knock

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting superstar Virat Kohli once again launched an attack on his strike rate critics after playing a fantastic innings in the 58th match of the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) against the Sam Curran-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday, May 9, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

Virat Kohli provided stability to Team RCB after they were off to a shaky start in the match and lost two wickets. He stood firm in the middle and tried to attack the bowlers in which he got a lot of success.

Kohli was well supported by Punjab Kings fielders as they gave two lifelines to the batter after dropping his catch. The 35-year-old looked in no mood to stop and he played an attacking brand of cricket throughout his innings. 

Virat Kohli entered the 90s by smashing a four and a six to Arshdeep Singh and he was trying to reach the three-figure mark with a boundary. However, one of his shots didn't connect well and he was caught by the Rilee Rossouw in the 18th over, falling short of a century by 8 runs. Kohli finished his innings with 92 runs off 47 balls, with 7 fours and 6 sixes, and he batted with a strike rate of 195.74.

Virat Kohli also unlocked several milestones during his sensational innings against the Punjab Kings. He became the first player to breach the 600-run mark in IPL 2024 and overall this was the 4th time he achieved this feat in the history of the tournament. He also became the first player in IPL history to score over 1000 runs against 3 teams in an IPL season.

I was just focused on taking the momentum forward - Virat Kohli 

Speaking during the mid-innings break, Virat Kohli once again took a dig at his strike rate critics, saying that he needed to keep his scoring rate up throughout the innings. Kohli said:

"Was important for me to keep up the strike rate right through the innings (laughs). I was just focused on taking the momentum forward. There was a tricky phase when Rajat got out, and there was a break for rain and hail. We had a bit of stop of momentum. Had to rebuild for 8-10 balls. Once the base was set and Cam got a few boundaries away, I thought I had to go again."

Talking about the pitch, Virat Kohli said that it was quite dry and there was a feel of the two-paced wicket. Virat Kohli elaborated:

"Surface was pretty dry underneath, and there was some grass coverage as well. If you saw Faf and me got done by lack of pace off the pitch. There was a two-paced feel with the new ball, which I think is a great opportunities for our bowlers to make early inroads and exploit that swing out there."

Virat Kohli also opined that the target of over 230 was a par score in Dharamsala. He said:

"We thought anything over 230 would be a good total here. That was the only mindset. That was a hell of an over from Harshal in the last over otherwise we would've been 250-plus."

Virat Kohli was also asked to share his views on PBKS debutant Vidwath Kaverappa, who bagged two wickets in the match. Kohli elaborated:

"Difficult to analyse someone in one game (talking about Kaverappa). He has swing in his hand. That's the thing when you're playing your first game and people haven't played you - you get away with it. You try to figure out variations and stuff like that. Kudos to him - he bowled good areas. But after the three overs when he came for the fourth, we knew the swing's done and then we went after him.

Watch - Was important for me to keep up the strike rate right through the inning: Virat Kohli