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[VIDEOS/ PICTURES] Virat Kohli has secured his position as an ATG

Actual domestic tournament in India is Syed mustaq Ali. This is strictly not domestic. No different than Kerry Packer series.

My brother in Christ this bowling line up was headlined by Buneshwar Kumar and a bunch of Indian players I've never heard of before.

May as well have scored runs in backyard cricket.
 
My brother in Christ this bowling line up was headlined by Buneshwar Kumar and a bunch of Indian players I've never heard of before.

May as well have scored runs in backyard cricket.

Not all the bowlers we don't hear of are bad. Harry Brook bashed everyone left/right/center against NZ and Pakistan. Look at him here. Struggling big time against every bowler.
 
A magnificent hundred under his belt to put his team in the play-off contention, star Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Virat Kohli on Thursday said he "does not care what anyone says on the outside" on his not so great strike rate in the IPL. Kohli struck exactly 100 off 63 balls and shared 172 runs with captain Faf du Plessis (71) to help RCB chase down the target of 187 with four balls to spare for an eight-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

"I never look at past numbers. I put myself under so much stress already. Was telling the boys - the way I'm looked at as an IPL player as well is like 'yeah, he's fine, few impact knocks'. It's my 6th IPL hundred. I don't give myself enough credit sometimes because I put myself under so much stress already. I don't care what anyone says on the outside. That's their opinion," said Kohli at the post match presentation, when asked about his not so great record against SRH.

"When you are in that situation yourself, you know how to win games of cricket. I have done that for a long period of time, it is not like when I play I don't win games for my team. I take pride in playing according to the situation," said Kohi, who was named player of the match.

Kohli, who has often been criticised for slowing down at the middle overs, said he would want to remain true to his technique and avoid playing fancy shots.

"I've never been a guy who plays so many fancy shots. We have to play 12 months of the year. For me, its not about playing fancy shots and throwing my wicket away. It's Test cricket (coming up) after the IPL. I have to stay true to my technique and find ways to win games for my team.

"Quite special considering the magnitude of the game. Thought SRH got a very good score. Ball was gripping as well. Faf's been on a different level. I've had a quiet couple of games. The way I was hitting in the nets wasn't transitioning into the middle." Asked what is the secret about he and du Plessis performing so well as a pair, Kohli joked, "I think it's the tattoos." "Very similar to how AB and me batting together. There's a good sense of where we (he and du Plessis) are and how to take the game forward. It's been a beautiful transition for us coming together for RCB at the top and making an impact." Talking about crowd support for RCB even if it was an away match, Kohli said, "Blessed and grateful for the support. I told Faf that it was like a home game, cheering for RCB and taking my name as well. I feel you can't create this. I haven't forced anyone to support me. It's an amazing position to be in that you can provide happiness to so many people." Du Plessis said his team were clinical with the bat and the ball.

"Amazing chase. We felt it was a good wicket walking off and that 200 was the par score despite Klaasen's ton. Not too many balls that spun or stuck on the wicket so we wanted to play positively.

"We were clinical with the bat today and ball last game. Kohli and I complement each other well, hit different areas and are good mates on and off well which works for us.

"Taking the momentum home is key. Away conditions are tough. Chinnaswamy will be amazing for another must-win game for us."

NDTV
 
Not all the bowlers we don't hear of are bad. Harry Brook bashed everyone left/right/center against NZ and Pakistan. Look at him here. Struggling big time against every bowler.

Do you think that's down the bowlers quality or conditions?

You know the answer.

None of these bowlers are international standard bowlers.
 
Do you think that's down the bowlers quality or conditions?

You know the answer.

None of these bowlers are international standard bowlers.

Boult/Hazlewood/Archer/Shami/Siraj/Nortje/Rabada/Sam Curran.. still a lot more. Pretty much all of them are taking part. Lot of them got clobbered. If anything Indian rookies bowled death bowling better this season than overseas bowlers. Even the guy like Pathirana from SL is a rookie. In a league environment these guys can be as good a threat as so called "super stars". Jordan is world cup winning bowler. Look at what he is doing here.
In spin department locals can be just as good as overseas with a few exceptions. Even in internationals most of the teams field second string,third string team in T20 bilaterals. Why would you rate those knocks?
 
Boult/Hazlewood/Archer/Shami/Siraj/Nortje/Rabada/Sam Curran.. still a lot more. Pretty much all of them are taking part. Lot of them got clobbered. If anything Indian rookies bowled death bowling better this season than overseas bowlers. Even the guy like Pathirana from SL is a rookie. In a league environment these guys can be as good a threat as so called "super stars". Jordan is world cup winning bowler. Look at what he is doing here.
In spin department locals can be just as good as overseas with a few exceptions. Even in internationals most of the teams field second string,third string team in T20 bilaterals. Why would you rate those knocks?
These games are nothing more than money grabs, none of these international players care about it outside the $$$.

The matches that are meaningful and will be remembered are WC games. Those games actually matter. Not some 100th T20 between Delhi Knight Riders and Mumbai Kings.

There's a reason why a considerable of Indian fans call Kohli Chokli.
 
There's a reason why a considerable of Indian fans call Kohli Chokli.

You must be annoyed that no one appears to be paying any interest in whatever you have to say. Feel free to continue to troll away
 
Second highest number of centuries in international cricket, only behind Sachin Tendulkar. They didn't come just like that. He scored them on the field.
 
Another hundred, this time against Shami and Rashid Khan while the second highest score in his team is 28. The white ball GOAT is well and truly back.
 
7th IPL 100 for Kohli in Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans, 70th Match
 
Wow Back to back hundreds came at a time when the team needed them the most
 
On Chinnaswamy pitch, this is an okayish inning. Nothing special.

Faf or Maxwell would have hit 100 in 45 balls on this pitch. This may come in losing cause which means RCB fans who are jumping by excitement up and down may be sent crying by the end of night by Pandya's Titans.
 
On Chinnaswamy pitch, this is an okayish inning. Nothing special.

Faf or Maxwell would have hit 100 in 45 balls on this pitch. This may come in losing cause which means RCB fans who are jumping by excitement up and down may be sent crying by the end of night by Pandya's Titans.

The result doesn't really matter too much. The important thing is that Kohli is finally getting back to his confident self. This resurgence over the past few months can help him extend his career for a few more years while still playing at a high level.

"I feel I am playing my best again, enjoying myself, hitting gaps and big ones at the end. You have to rise to the occasion when the situation demands, and I take a lot of pride in doing, and I've been doing it a while now. I feel really good in my game right now."
 
The result doesn't really matter too much. The important thing is that Kohli is finally getting back to his confident self. This resurgence over the past few months can help him extend his career for a few more years while still playing at a high level.

"I feel I am playing my best again, enjoying myself, hitting gaps and big ones at the end. You have to rise to the occasion when the situation demands, and I take a lot of pride in doing, and I've been doing it a while now. I feel really good in my game right now."

His confidence is back since he got that first hundred after a long gap vs Afghanistan. He has churned hundreds quite often since then. So, his form is fine now, I was talking w.r.t the context of match as it might not be enough on this pitch.
 
Kholi will be like Messi where people will cheer for him including myself to win an IPL cup just out of pity.
 
He wasted 10 balls to get to his century in a crucial game today, because of which RCB is now eliminated. Selfish player has 0 IPL & ICC titles .. deservedly.
 
60 balls hundred are no longer the standards in T20s these days especially on pitches like Wankhede or Chinnaswamy and Gill proved it by playing a superior and destructive knock to seal the game for GT.
 
He wasted 10 balls to get to his century in a crucial game today, because of which RCB is now eliminated. Selfish player has 0 IPL & ICC titles .. deservedly.

Who else in his team would've used those ten balls better after Faf, Maxwell, and DK got out cheaply? Rawat and Parnell were the ones left. Gill has Hardik, Miller, Tewatia, and Rashid coming in even if he gets out so he can afford to play at 200 SR.
 
His slow hundred cost his team qualification lol.

Gill blasted his off 50 balls @ a SR of 200.
 
What a brutal game T20 cricket is

You could be a centurion and still the reason why your team failed!
 
What a brutal game T20 cricket is

You could be a centurion and still the reason why your team failed!

He is less of a reason. While chasing he knows how to go about it. But while setting he doesn't really do the same. That is one of his issues. Also in T20 you shouldn't really be required to carry your bat through in this day and age. You should build a side like that. Sadly RCB for the last 10 or 15 years never built a side that has half decent finishers. Always top 3. Either it was Gayle/AB/Kohli or Watson/Baz/Ab/Kohli. All the power is at the top. once you clip it you can run through them.
 
In a score of 197 the rest of the team makes a combined 96 runs, so we blame Kohli for hitting a 100 which at least helped to take the game to 19th over.

I see a strange trend on Pakpassion to belittle 100s and be euphoric at 15 off 3 balls and back in hut.

Kohli has his own issues, but RCB has bigger issues which is why they didnt qualify.

The guy that scored 2 100s is least of their concern.

We talk about Shubman but he is also a higher talent than anyone else playing cricket today which is why he can hit 100 off 50 also.

Do you think any Tom can score 100 of 50 or 60 ?
 
Who else in his team would've used those ten balls better after Faf, Maxwell, and DK got out cheaply? Rawat and Parnell were the ones left. Gill has Hardik, Miller, Tewatia, and Rashid coming in even if he gets out so he can afford to play at 200 SR.

Kohli on his best days can play at 160 S/R.

200 S/R from Kohli while scoring anything in excess of 75 is a rarity or near impossibility for him.
 
60 balls hundred are no longer the standards in T20s these days especially on pitches like Wankhede or Chinnaswamy and Gill proved it by playing a superior and destructive knock to seal the game for GT.

Perfectly said. While Kohli is still a top batsman, he is a tad bit too slow for T20's. He is suited in the middle order. Somebody else must open for RCB. Kohli should never open.
 
Kohli on his best days can play at 160 S/R.

200 S/R from Kohli while scoring anything in excess of 75 is a rarity or near impossibility for him.

He is a one day legend. In T20 also he played some clutch knocks for India. But you need players to complement him. It is always the case for most main batsmen. He can be damaging like he did against Malinga early in his career scoring 24 runs in one over against him. But over a period he developed a fool proof safety game where he rotates strike and strikes big when needed. He is immensely strong player. Also a great timer. But his muscle memory never allows him to be consistently aggressive. T20s have evolved big time. Playing 15 to 20 overs mean you have to strike at 200 plus on good batting surfaces. Gill was a singles/doubles guy for an year or so. This year he has changed. He is unleashing full range. Being young he is able to easily switch to new style of play. Kohli is on his last legs. He is not going to suddenly bat differently. He is no Rahane who desperately adopted a new style. Kohli doesn't have to be desperate. When Rahane can strike at 180 plus so can Kohli. But Kohli won't do.
 
He is a one day legend. In T20 also he played some clutch knocks for India. But you need players to complement him. It is always the case for most main batsmen. He can be damaging like he did against Malinga early in his career scoring 24 runs in one over against him. But over a period he developed a fool proof safety game where he rotates strike and strikes big when needed. He is immensely strong player. Also a great timer. But his muscle memory never allows him to be consistently aggressive. T20s have evolved big time. Playing 15 to 20 overs mean you have to strike at 200 plus on good batting surfaces. Gill was a singles/doubles guy for an year or so. This year he has changed. He is unleashing full range. Being young he is able to easily switch to new style of play. Kohli is on his last legs. He is not going to suddenly bat differently. He is no Rahane who desperately adopted a new style. Kohli doesn't have to be desperate. When Rahane can strike at 180 plus so can Kohli. But Kohli won't do.

I feel sorry for Kohli for his inability to win an IPL title. He is still a great player. But not well suited for the modern day T20 game.
His method of play will not allow him to score big runs at quick pace. To date his highest ODI score is also 183. Many have score double centuries in the last few years. Kohli's strike rate will not allow him to score double centuries. He does not have that additional gear where he scores 30 runs in an over. If Kohli scores a six or four, his instinct is to take a single.
 
I feel sorry for Kohli for his inability to win an IPL title. He is still a great player. But not well suited for the modern day T20 game.
His method of play will not allow him to score big runs at quick pace. To date his highest ODI score is also 183. Many have score double centuries in the last few years. Kohli's strike rate will not allow him to score double centuries. He does not have that additional gear where he scores 30 runs in an over. If Kohli scores a six or four, his instinct is to take a single.

Last line is so true. That is how he has cultivated his game. Even if it is a juicy full toss he will take a single. This Gavaskar philosophy is nothing but ** in T20. He will go gaga over anyone takes a single after six. Can he do it? He can but he won't. Ideally his team needs someone like pooran/rinku down the order and he gets out after 12 or 13th over.
 
He is less of a reason. While chasing he knows how to go about it. But while setting he doesn't really do the same. That is one of his issues. Also in T20 you shouldn't really be required to carry your bat through in this day and age. You should build a side like that. Sadly RCB for the last 10 or 15 years never built a side that has half decent finishers. Always top 3. Either it was Gayle/AB/Kohli or Watson/Baz/Ab/Kohli. All the power is at the top. once you clip it you can run through them.

Watson/Baz never really did great for RCB.

It was Gayle/Kohli/ABD and now Faf/Kohli/Maxi. For RCB, their problem seems to be Chinnaswamy pitch where they have a pretty average record. They need 1-2 Indian batters who step up for them and produce a top season.

MI plays on Wankhede too which is a belter but they are not relying on individual players. They have SKY and Kishan, two Indian players apart from Rohit who can play impactful knocks and win for their team. Who can be those Indian players for RCB?
They have to identify that.

Faf and Maxi are overseas players but even MI will have Green and David for the big hitting so cancels out. It is the Indian batters outside of Kohli who needs to steps up. DK was an utter flop this year.
 
Watson/Baz never really did great for RCB.

It was Gayle/Kohli/ABD and now Faf/Kohli/Maxi. For RCB, their problem seems to be Chinnaswamy pitch where they have a pretty average record. They need 1-2 Indian batters who step up for them and produce a top season.

MI plays on Wankhede too which is a belter but they are not relying on individual players. They have SKY and Kishan, two Indian players apart from Rohit who can play impactful knocks and win for their team. Who can be those Indian players for RCB?
They have to identify that.

Faf and Maxi are overseas players but even MI will have Green and David for the big hitting so cancels out. It is the Indian batters outside of Kohli who needs to steps up. DK was an utter flop this year.

It cannot always be about batting. Bowling has to be far better than this. We are talking about 10-15 extra runs. Look at the amount of runs GT scored with edges. Atleast 35 to 40 runs. Very pathetic field placing. THey have been playing so many matches here. They don't even understand how to exploit the ground dimension. This bowling is Siraj or nothing. No middle over spinners, no death over exponent. You need to distrbute your batting strength right through. LSG would have been at the bottom but some unreal cameos from Pooran. RCB had no such player. DK let them down big time. There are far too many holes they have to fill. It is not just batting. Faf had a spectacular season.
 
It cannot always be about batting. Bowling has to be far better than this. We are talking about 10-15 extra runs. Look at the amount of runs GT scored with edges. Atleast 35 to 40 runs. Very pathetic field placing. THey have been playing so many matches here. They don't even understand how to exploit the ground dimension. <B>This bowling is Siraj or nothing. No middle over spinners, no death over exponent. You need to distrbute your batting strength right through.</B> LSG would have been at the bottom but some unreal cameos from Pooran. RCB had no such player. DK let them down big time. There are far too many holes they have to fill. It is not just batting. Faf had a spectacular season.

RCB had worked on their bowling in last 2-3 years but it seems there is lack of consistency again this season. They had Hasaranga who did well for them as middle overs spinner. Harshal just had one great tournament in 2021 in UAE picking some 30 wickets and he is basically riding on that performance. Then there was Hazelwood who was injured most of the times but also his style of bowling might not work on belter where he could go for plenty.

Still, 4 known names that have played at highest level - Siraj, Hasaranga, Hazelwood and Harshal..
 
RCB had worked on their bowling in last 2-3 years but it seems there is lack of consistency again this season. They had Hasaranga who did well for them as middle overs spinner. Harshal just had one great tournament in 2021 in UAE picking some 30 wickets and he is basically riding on that performance. Then there was Hazelwood who was injured most of the times but also his style of bowling might not work on belter where he could go for plenty.

Still, 4 known names that have played at highest level - Siraj, Hasaranga, Hazelwood and Harshal..

A noname Madhwal comes in lands pin point yorkers one after another. HE absolutely choked SRH. Why couldn't RCB bowlers do the same? How hard it is to bowl yorkers. KKR defended 200 on the same ground against RCB. Faf is a good batsman. But not a good captain.
 
60 balls hundred are no longer the standards in T20s these days especially on pitches like Wankhede or Chinnaswamy and Gill proved it by playing a superior and destructive knock to seal the game for GT.
Kohli still maintains that he is still a good enough T20 batsman.

Heights of delusion!
 
Except for that innings against Pakistan in last year's WT20, Kohli is an abject failure in last 2 of its editions.

If Kohli still thinks he is good enough as a T20 batsman, we are doomed in another edition of WT20.
 
India star Virat Kohli has issued a warning ahead of next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup by declaring he is at the top of his game and feels like he is playing his best T20 cricket.

Kohli finished as the leading run scorer at the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia when he amassed an eye-catching 296 runs for his country at a Bradman-esque average of 98.66 and a strike rate greater than 136, but was expected to face greater competition from India's bevy of young batters in the lead-up to next year's event in the Caribbean and USA.

But the 34-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down based on his recent efforts in the Indian Premier League and has given every indication he wants to continue playing 20-over cricket for his country.

The champion right-hander has scored 639 runs from 14 matches while opening the batting for Royal Challengers Bangalore, with his most recent contribution an unbeaten 101 from just 61 balls as his side fell out of the playoffs race to Gujarat Titans.

It was Kohli's second century on the trot for his IPL franchise and the veteran said he is back playing his best when asked by former India coach Ravi Shastri at the completion of his innings.

"Ya, I felt great. A lot of people feel my T20 cricket is declining, but I don't feel like that at all," Kohli said.

"I feel I am playing my best T20 cricket again. I'm just enjoying myself, this is how I play T20 cricket. I look to hit gaps, hit a lot of boundaries and the big ones in the end if the situation allows me to.

"Strike rates, all those kind of things like I said in the past as well...you have to read the situation and rise up to the occasion when the situation demands, and that's something I take a lot of pride in doing, and I've been doing it for a while now. I feel really good with my game at the moment and how I'm batting out there in the middle."

Kohli hasn't been the only experienced campaigner performing well at the top of the order for Royal Challengers Bangalore this season, with South Africa batter Faf du Plessis also in good touch having scored 730 runs to be the leading run scorer for the tournament thus far.

Kohli and du Plessis combined for a total of 939 runs across 14 innings - equalling the previous record from IPL 2016 set by Kohli and AB de Villiers' of most runs by a pair in a T20 tournament - as Royal Challengers Bangalore narrowly missed out on a spot in the playoffs.

Karthik backs du Plessis to make international comeback at World Cup
Du Plessis was full of praise for Kohli and believes his fellow opener still has plenty to offer in the shortest format of the game.

"He (Kohli) has played really good cricket throughout the season," du Plessis said.

"It just shows you Virat has got a lot left in the tank in T20 cricket as he is playing really well still."

BBC
 
Different bowling attacks.
Scoring a century at a SR of 150 as an opener is pretty poor these days.

That's not taking into account the flat pitch and small boundaries.

This is the same issue with Kane where he anchors the batting and puts pressure on others to smash because he nudges around 120-130 for most of his innings and then picks it up towards the back end to make it more respectable. Babar is the same.

These players just don't work in today's T20. The top T20 teams have moved on and have specialist players in the top 3 who are capable of taking teams apart. You know it, I know it.
 
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Kohli still maintains that he is still a good enough T20 batsman.

Heights of delusion!
Kohli, Babar and Kane of the same ilk.

T20 has progressed where players like these are more of hindrance. You need match winners who are capable of blasting 60 off 20 odd balls.
 
Kohli on his best days can play at 160 S/R.

200 S/R from Kohli while scoring anything in excess of 75 is a rarity or near impossibility for him.
As a top order batsmen for a top tier team that is a pretty mediocre ceiling and puts pressure on others to come off.
 
Even severe problem is - There are 3 Kohlis (type of player - I mean) in Indian T20 team... Kohli, Rohit & Rahul (DK also made a special appearance recently). This is not the way to build a T20 team. I always feel that Kohli does this to protect himself. He shields himself by keeping similar inferior players in the team so that he can shine better than them and hence retain his position in the team... If he was a proper team man he wouldn't have done this and chose players based on merit.

Even in tests he did the same thing (by retaining Pujara & Rahane for so long). Sarfaraz who is doing so well in first class should have got chance by now. Who knows we may have some batsmen who can bat at test level at will like Rishab Pant and go a long way! In ODIs too he wanted Dhawan, DK, Dhoni to stay for long!

But IPL is where he gets exposed completely (because here there are no such players to hide behind as they are distributed across other teams!). And RCB have their own issue (who could never identify a promising upcoming Indian batsman to challenge Kohli). Other teams like MI, KKR, CSK, etc, would have shown how Kohli is inferior (in T20s) compared to other players. Rohit always looks inferior in MI team (but he doesn't bother, because he knows there is a slot available for him in the team and he plays within himself and he has strong team to help him) Dhoni intelligently downplays himself in CSK team (he is now batting at No.8). Kohli's ego and RCB management's stupidity will never allow Kohli to play his actual role on merit, so RCB always looks like a Kohli's team (just like BCCI) rather than a competitive corporate cricket team!

If Kohli had been strict about his buddies and allowed proper cricketers to play on merit, he would have done a lot good to Indian Cricket. I think he is never a team man and keeps his ego above everything (look at ABD on the other hand - how he managed his career!)
 
Even severe problem is - There are 3 Kohlis (type of player - I mean) in Indian T20 team... Kohli, Rohit & Rahul (DK also made a special appearance recently). This is not the way to build a T20 team. I always feel that Kohli does this to protect himself. He shields himself by keeping similar inferior players in the team so that he can shine better than them and hence retain his position in the team... If he was a proper team man he wouldn't have done this and chose players based on merit.

Even in tests he did the same thing (by retaining Pujara & Rahane for so long). Sarfaraz who is doing so well in first class should have got chance by now. Who knows we may have some batsmen who can bat at test level at will like Rishab Pant and go a long way! In ODIs too he wanted Dhawan, DK, Dhoni to stay for long!

But IPL is where he gets exposed completely (because here there are no such players to hide behind as they are distributed across other teams!). And RCB have their own issue (who could never identify a promising upcoming Indian batsman to challenge Kohli). Other teams like MI, KKR, CSK, etc, would have shown how Kohli is inferior (in T20s) compared to other players. Rohit always looks inferior in MI team (but he doesn't bother, because he knows there is a slot available for him in the team and he plays within himself and he has strong team to help him) Dhoni intelligently downplays himself in CSK team (he is now batting at No.8). Kohli's ego and RCB management's stupidity will never allow Kohli to play his actual role on merit, so RCB always looks like a Kohli's team (just like BCCI) rather than a competitive corporate cricket team!

If Kohli had been strict about his buddies and allowed proper cricketers to play on merit, he would have done a lot good to Indian Cricket. I think he is never a team man and keeps his ego above everything (look at ABD on the other hand - how he managed his career!)
Well said.

You won't find more selfish cricketer than Kohli especially when he was a captain.

He could have done so much during his captaincy reign especially when he had unlimited powers and was perhaps the most powerful man of Indian cricket ever but he chose to back mostly mediocre and past it batsmen just because he can be looked as cut above his fellow team mates.

Too bad for him, his own form completely deserted him and he looked every bit as worse as his mediocre chums did.

He could have booted out Dhoni at least 3 years earlier than Dhoni eventually retired.

Last ODI WC failure was completely on him when our batting was just top-3 and nothing else. Who selects 3 WKs in a WC SF?

Well, that's Kohli for you who true to his narcissist self, couldn't be bothered about minor things like team balance.
 
Though I'll give him that our pace bowling has never been better as it was under him.

Though he did his best to finish career of a generational talent called Kuldeep.
 
Even severe problem is - There are 3 Kohlis (type of player - I mean) in Indian T20 team... Kohli, Rohit & Rahul (DK also made a special appearance recently). This is not the way to build a T20 team. I always feel that Kohli does this to protect himself. He shields himself by keeping similar inferior players in the team so that he can shine better than them and hence retain his position in the team... If he was a proper team man he wouldn't have done this and chose players based on merit.

Even in tests he did the same thing (by retaining Pujara & Rahane for so long). Sarfaraz who is doing so well in first class should have got chance by now. Who knows we may have some batsmen who can bat at test level at will like Rishab Pant and go a long way! In ODIs too he wanted Dhawan, DK, Dhoni to stay for long!

But IPL is where he gets exposed completely (because here there are no such players to hide behind as they are distributed across other teams!). And RCB have their own issue (who could never identify a promising upcoming Indian batsman to challenge Kohli). Other teams like MI, KKR, CSK, etc, would have shown how Kohli is inferior (in T20s) compared to other players. Rohit always looks inferior in MI team (but he doesn't bother, because he knows there is a slot available for him in the team and he plays within himself and he has strong team to help him) Dhoni intelligently downplays himself in CSK team (he is now batting at No.8). Kohli's ego and RCB management's stupidity will never allow Kohli to play his actual role on merit, so RCB always looks like a Kohli's team (just like BCCI) rather than a competitive corporate cricket team!

If Kohli had been strict about his buddies and allowed proper cricketers to play on merit, he would have done a lot good to Indian Cricket. I think he is never a team man and keeps his ego above everything (look at ABD on the other hand - how he managed his career!)

Long story short they never built a team. THey just built superstars. They just picked superstars used them in ad. Longer Kohli stays at the crease is the better for them. THey can keep building the brand. He could register 10 ducks in a row and still play for RCB. Nobody could stop him from changing his approach or batting order. But he never did it.
 
India is all set to take on Australia in the World Test Championship final at the Oval from June 7. The Indian team is eyeing a long-awaited ICC title but standing in their way is a ruthless Australian side. India have dominated Australia in recent times but their record in ICC finals has not been that great.

Also, India have lost some of their key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul due to injuries. Rohit Sharma has not been in great form while Ajinkya Rahane is making a comeback to the team. Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill will hold the key for India in the summit clash.

Speaking about Virat Kohli, who is back to his brutal best after going through an extended lean patch between 2019-2022, former Australia cricketer and India coach Greg Chappell said that Kohli will score runs for India in the final. Citing Virat's great record against the Aussies, Chappel said that the conditions will be dry at the Oval and will be similar to Australia which Kohli enjoys.

"Virat Kohli was asked a lot of questions in England in 2014 and 2021 by [Jimmy] Anderson, [Stuart] Broad and the rest of the English bowlers. They bowled some excellent lines and lengths to him in conditions that suited them. They knew he is the best, and lifted themselves when bowling to him. To think or say that the Australians will be able to do the same from ball one is not correct. The English know their own conditions better than anyone else in the world. And Virat loves to bat against the Australians. We have seen that in Australia," Chappell said at 'Backstage with Boria'

"His record is evidence of how good he is. He loves a contest and is never one to back off from one. The Oval, from all of my experience, is going to have bounce and it will suit Virat. You have said to me that the weather has stayed dry so far. If the weather continues to stay dry, The Oval is as close to an Australian wicket in England as you will ever get. And that will suit Virat. I think if he is mentally switched on, like I have said to you earlier in the conversation, he will get runs for India. He is a very good player and someone who can make a telling difference," he added.

Chappell also shed light on Rohit Sharma's form and said that his IPL performance will not hamper his WTC preparations.

"Coming to Rohit, yes, I totally agree the IPL is different. The weather, the conditions, the format, everything is different. And it is not about what you or I or anyone else feels about his form. It is all about what Rohit feels. Does he have any self-doubt? Or he is feeling good about going out there and batting? If he is in a good zone as he steps out, there is no question he will bat well. Yes, questions will be asked of him by good bowlers bowling good balls, but that's no different for Rohit compared to any other batter. If he is in a good mind space, IPL form will not matter in this Test match," he concluded.

CricketCountry
 
Cometh the hour, [not] cometh the man....

FyHCA63WcAA453l
 
Unplayable from Starc?

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I have no words to say anymore. I used to be his biggest fan.

Idk whether the stage is too big for him or hes just not good enough to score against top teams.

Who knows if this was Bangladesh, Afghanistan or SL he might have blasted a double and his fan boys will be going with that king garbage.
 
Idk whether the stage is too big for him or hes just not good enough to score against top teams.

Who knows if this was Bangladesh, Afghanistan or SL he might have blasted a double and his fan boys will be going with that king garbage.

Perhaps age is catching up with him. He'll be 35 this November.
 
Players worship is the worst thing that happens in India.
King Kohli is the cringest one.

What has he won for India to warrant such a name?

I wouldn't trade Kohli for Kane in a million years. You can have billions of useless bilaterial runs, FTBing and minnow bashing. It's the titles that count.
 
King Kohli is the cringest one.

What has he won for India to warrant such a name?

I wouldn't trade Kohli for Kane in a million years. You can have billions of useless bilaterial runs, FTBing and minnow bashing. It's the titles that count.

He has regressed since 2019. But before that he was a pure dynamite. An absolutely unbelievable batsman he was prior to that.
 
He has regressed since 2019. But before that he was a pure dynamite. An absolutely unbelievable batsman he was prior to that.
He's yet to make a mark at ICC events. He's done nothing for India when it matters most. Not even at an individual level.

I've never seen a player of his level fail so bad on the biggest stage. Outside of Ronaldo, funnily enough he is his idol.
 
Perhaps age is catching up with him. He'll be 35 this November.
Can't be age, he literally just said he was back in form after breaking his century drought and scoring 100s against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and SL.

Makes me think he's just not built for the big stage.

Look at Smith who isn't even great in LOIs, he has far more notable performances for Aus at the WC.
 
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Can't be age, he literally just said he was back in form after breaking his century drought and scoring 100s against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and SL.

Makes me think he's just not built for the big stage.

Look at Smith who isn't even great in LOIs, he has far more notable performances for Aus at the WC.

What he believes about his current form does not necessarily have to be true. Players who drag their careers also believe they are good enough to carry on, when in fact they aren't.
 
He got a very good ball today. But he is definitely not the same he was before 2019.
 
King Kohli is the cringest one.

What has he won for India to warrant such a name?

I wouldn't trade Kohli for Kane in a million years. You can have billions of useless bilaterial runs, FTBing and minnow bashing. It's the titles that count.

Both Kohli and Kane are overrated players. Kohli atleast has dominated test series in England and Australia, Kane's record is awful in tests in England, Australia and India.

All in all, I will put Kohli behind Amla in Tests. Hearing this may make life tougher for some Indian and Pak fans but that is what the reality is.
 
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I’m not sure how much this means. I haven’t watched the match at all really, but the ball that he got looks very difficult to me. I would add that he doesn’t have his best record in England. Seems to get low scores more often here than elsewhere.
 
Both Kohli and Kane are overrated players. Kohli atleast has dominated test series in England and Australia, Kane's record is awful in tests in England, Australia and India.

All in all, I will put Kohli behind Amla in Tests. Hearing this may make life tougher for some Indian and Pak fans but that is what the reality is.
Kane led a far weaker team to a World Championship in one format, and Final in two others - one of which we lost the WC on a tie.

You take those stats, I really don't care how much he averages in Antarctica, Luxembourg etc. Bottom line is when it matters most I'm taking Kane. Kohli is no better than a tailender when the lights are its brightest.
 
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Kane led a far weaker team to a World Championship in one format, and Final in two others - one of which we lost the WC on a tie.

You take those stats, I really don't care how much he averages in Antarctica, Luxembourg etc. Bottom line is when it matters most I'm taking Kane. Kohli is no better than a tailender when the lights are its brightest.

When did Kane performed when it matters? And what about consistency vs top teams?

In WTC Final, he just blocked and survived. A quickfire knock from Jamieson and his bowling made the difference as it saved NZ some time (otherwise it was a draw) and ofcourse he picked 10 wickets in that game.
 
When did Kane performed when it matters? And what about consistency vs top teams?

In WTC Final, he just blocked and survived. A quickfire knock from Jamieson and his bowling made the difference as it saved NZ some time (otherwise it was a draw) and ofcourse he picked 10 wickets in that game.

WC 19 semifinal and final?
 
When did Kane performed when it matters? And what about consistency vs top teams?

In WTC Final, he just blocked and survived. A quickfire knock from Jamieson and his bowling made the difference as it saved NZ some time (otherwise it was a draw) and ofcourse he picked 10 wickets in that game.
Kohli could only dream of batting like Kane did in the WTC Final in 2021. He hasn't sniffed a WC POT award either.

Let's not forget Kohli was booted from captaincy in humiliating fashion by the BCCI as well.
 
I’m not sure how much this means. I haven’t watched the match at all really, but the ball that he got looks very difficult to me. I would add that he doesn’t have his best record in England. Seems to get low scores more often here than elsewhere.
Forget his record in England. Look at his record at international events. Difficult to find a worse performing top tier star when it comes to the big stage.
 
Kohli could only dream of batting like Kane did in the WTC Final in 2021. He hasn't sniffed a WC POT award either.

Let's not forget Kohli was booted from captaincy in humiliating fashion by the BCCI as well.

No. Kane's batting was nothing special in WTC 2021. He scored only 50 runs in first inning and had to chase 150 in second inning, NZ had an advantage that Jamieson and Southee scored quickfire 30-40 runs which made the difference and Jamieson's bowling was better than anyone else. That was the only difference in that game.

Kohli has won POT award in 2014 and 2016 WC as well and leading run scorer in 2022 WC as well smashing the Pakistani bowling attack flooded with 155-160 kph pacers for 48 runs in 18 balls in winning cause. Kane can actually only dream of such feats.

Kohli has also hit some outrageous hundreds in Tests in England, India, South Africa and Australia, which again Kane can only dream of.

Both Smith and Root have won test matches in India but Kane hasn't won even there.

As a batter, Kane is not even half as good as Kohli who is basically not even among top 5 Indian batsman of all-time. :inti
 
WC 19 semifinal and final?

Failed in both the games.

The NZ win in semi final was thanks to NZ bowlers led by Ross Taylor's inspirational batting. Kane batted very slow in that game. In finals, he flopped big time anyways.
 
Kohli has always been terrible in ICC events...sure he has done well at the T20 world cup but we all know the value that has. When it really comes to the big stage he has always failed, the sample size is big enough now.

His CV is loosing its value with every failed major event.
 
Kohli has always been terrible in ICC events...sure he has done well at the T20 world cup but we all know the value that has. When it really comes to the big stage he has always failed, the sample size is big enough now.

His CV is loosing its value with every failed major event.
I don't understand how this is disputed.

His record in major ICC events is horrific for an all time great player.
 
No. Kane's batting was nothing special in WTC 2021. He scored only 50 runs in first inning and had to chase 150 in second inning, NZ had an advantage that Jamieson and Southee scored quickfire 30-40 runs which made the difference and Jamieson's bowling was better than anyone else. That was the only difference in that game.

Kohli has won POT award in 2014 and 2016 WC as well and leading run scorer in 2022 WC as well smashing the Pakistani bowling attack flooded with 155-160 kph pacers for 48 runs in 18 balls in winning cause. Kane can actually only dream of such feats.

Kohli has also hit some outrageous hundreds in Tests in England, India, South Africa and Australia, which again Kane can only dream of.

Both Smith and Root have won test matches in India but Kane hasn't won even there.

As a batter, Kane is not even half as good as Kohli who is basically not even among top 5 Indian batsman of all-time. :inti
Wallahi no one cares about how many runs Kohli has scored against SL, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

What people care about his when his country needed him most. What has he done for India. Diddly squat.

He has no legacy. In 50 years he will be forgotten while people still remember the likes of Sachin, Kapil, Gambhir and Dhoni for their heroics for India on the grandest stage.
 
People rip on Amla hard for his inability to perform under pressure but Hashim Amla and Kohli belong in the same bracket.

Numbers look good but could never deliver championships for their country.
 
People rip on Amla hard for his inability to perform under pressure but Hashim Amla and Kohli belong in the same bracket.

Numbers look good but could never deliver championships for their country.


How do you think Kohli and Babar’s legacy will compare at both of their retirements? Do you think Babar can surpass him? He has also already scored more runs than Kohli in his first ever ICC ODI WC as a 24 year old than Kohli has in 3 attempts.
 
How do you think Kohli and Babar’s legacy will compare at both of their retirements? Do you think Babar can surpass him? He has also already scored more runs than Kohli in his first ever ICC ODI WC as a 24 year old than Kohli has in 3 attempts.
Second innings and WC are Kohli's last chance to do something of note for his country. If he doesn't, I don't see how Babar doesn't surpass him.

Overall numbers are already better although I'd say Kohli has more gears and is better on eye test. Babar would just need to have one dominant tournament to really say he's better. If he leads Pakistan to a ODI WC or WTC title, it's over. No comparison.
 
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That was too good a ball which bounced out of no where and have got any top order batsman out.
 
Second innings and WC are Kohli's last chance to do something of note for his country. If he doesn't, I don't see how Babar doesn't surpass him.

Overall numbers are already better although I'd say Kohli has more gears and is better on eye test. Babar would just need to have one dominant tournament to really say he's better. If he leads Pakistan to a ODI WC or WTC title, it's over. No comparison.


Tbh Rohit Sharma’s ICC knockout record is also absolutely pathetic given the number of opportunities they have both had. The fact that there is not a SINGLE noteworthy performance really isn’t talked about enough. That is due to the overhyping from fans and the delusion grandeur of the biggest cricketing market in the world.
 
Tbh Rohit Sharma’s ICC knockout record is also absolutely pathetic given the number of opportunities they have both had. The fact that there is not a SINGLE noteworthy performance really isn’t talked about enough. That is due to the overhyping from fans and the delusion grandeur of the biggest cricketing market in the world.
Rohit isn't held in the same regard as Kohli.

It's regularly brought up that Rohit's been poor.
 
Tbh Rohit Sharma’s ICC knockout record is also absolutely pathetic given the number of opportunities they have both had. The fact that there is not a SINGLE noteworthy performance really isn’t talked about enough. That is due to the overhyping from fans and the delusion grandeur of the biggest cricketing market in the world.
Rohit always slips under the radar. He is one of the main reason along with Kohli and Bumrah why we haven't won a single ICC trophy for so many years.
 
Virat Kohli stands between Australia and title - HUGE day tomorrow and could easily define his legacy.
 
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