T20 World Cup 2024: After Virat Kohli criticises 'Commentary Box Strike Rate Experts', Ravi Shastri issues an official statement

India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli’s strike rate in the ongoing IPL 2024 is a major topic of debate among cricket experts, and now former Team India head coach and well-known commentator Ravi Shastri also shared his thoughts on the same.

The dashing right-hander is in great form with the bat for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing IPL 2024 and has already amassed 500 runs in the tournament from 10 matches at an average of 71.43 and a strike rate of 147.49.

Kohli has now run over 7,700 IPL runs at a strike rate of 131 and an average of 38.43, making him the all-time leading run-getter in IPL history. The dashing right-hander crossed the 500-run milestone for the seventh time in the IPL, becoming only the second batter after David Warner to do so.

Ravi Shastri extends his support to Virat Kohli over the strike rate drama

Recently, the former India and RCB skipper played a match-winning knock of 70 off 44 balls against the Gujarat Titans (GT) to silence his critics, but still, there is a lot of noise surrounding his strike rate in the T20s. However, Kohli has found support from his former coach, Ravi Shastri.

Shastri believes that it is unfair to target Kohli for his strike rate even though he is performing consistently with the bat since it is the result of his team’s overall performance in the tournament.

The commentator said that when wickets are falling around a batter, it's obvious that their strike rate will drop, and a similar thing is happening with Kohli. Ravi Shastri was quoted as saying by Stake.com: “When wickets fall around you, your strike rate is likely to drop.”

Shastri also said that there are only a couple of players delivering consistently, and that’s why the bottom-ranked RCB is not performing well in the ongoing IPL 2024. He noted, “When you look at RCB, there are only 1 or 2 consistent performers.”

I speak what I see: Ravi Shastri

The former Indian skipper and all-rounder also opened up about his technique when he was on the mic. The commentator signed off by saying, “I speak what I see and do the right amount of preparation on crucial aspects such as the event and the teams playing.”

Notably, amid all the speculations and criticism over his strike rate, Virat Kohli found a place in India’s 15-member primary squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to be co-hosted by the West Indies and USA from June 1.

Kohli is currently the Orang Cap holder in the ongoing IPL 2024, and he is expected to continue his form in the tournament leading up to the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which will probably be his last chance to win his maiden World T20 Trophy in his career.

On the other hand, RCB will face the Gujarat Titans (GT) in their next IPL 2024 game on May 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.