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SPORTS FEBRUARY 28, 2025 | The Indian Eye 37

VIRAT KOHLI

At this stage of his career, how the star

batter is shaping innings with great knocks

AB de Villiers hails star India batter Virat Kohli for “stepping out of his comfort
zone” during the last season of the Indian Premier League

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
s long as love for game, batting is alive...”:
Virat opens on his approach following hero-
Aic knock in semis
Following a match-winning knock against Aus-
tralia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal, star
India batter Virat Kohli expressed his love for the
game of cricket and batting, and said that as long
as that ‘love’ is alive, everything else can be taken
care of.
Speaking after the game in a video by the
Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI), Virat said,
“I just love playing this game, I just love batting.
As long as love for the game and batting is alive,
all other things can take care of themselves. You
are not going to a desperate situation and put your
head down, thank god. Just keep working towards
what the team wants, you will have results like
these more often than not.”
Further opening on his approach to the sport
at this stage of his career, Virat said that it is about
getting excited for big matches, trying his best to do
his job and play according to situation, which could
involve a lot of hard running between the wickets,
an art he has excelled in. India’s Virat Kohli plays a shot during the 1st Semi-Final (A1 v B2) against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy, 2025, at Dubai
“For me, at this stage of my career, it is about
getting up for these games, getting excited, com- International Cricket Stadium in Dubai (ANI)
ing out here, hopefully doing the job for the team,
working hard as much as I can, run hard between RCB will kickstart their campaign against de- scored 319 runs at an average of 79.75, with a cen-
the wickets, play according to the situation. When fending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) tury and two fifties, but his strike rate of around
all these things come together and it comes off, you on March 22 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and they 141 generated immense criticism from fans and
feel great. To get the team across the line, it is a would be looking to win their first IPL title, which experts who felt that his more cautious approach,
great feeling,” said Virat. would mean a lot for Virat, who has been a part especially against spin, held RCB back.
“Obviously as a team, you feel good when of the franchise since 2008, the year when league However, Virat responded back with immense
people step up through the innings. Hardik (Pan- started. improvements against spin, utilisation of slog
dya) hit those crucial shots at a nervous point for Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar, AB re- sweep against them and hitting more sixes. In next
us. KL (Rahul) played outstandingly to close the called the criticism Virat received for his strike nine matches, he scored 422 runs at an average
game. Shreyas had a fine partnership with me. All- rate in the initial stages of the competition, calling of 52.75, with three half-centuries. However, his
around effort counts. People are in a great space. it “ridiculous”. strike rate skyrocketed to around 166, marking a
You qualify for finals, a couple of days off, every- “The scrutiny over Virat’s strike rate was ab- massive improvement. He ended the season with
thing to look forward to,” he concluded. solutely ridiculous. He had done exactly what his 38 sixes, on par with his best season of 2016 season,
Meanwhile, former South African cricketer team needed from him. It is all about the situation. when he scored 952 runs with four centuries and
AB de Villiers hailed star India batter Virat Kohli When he has someone at the other end he trusts, seven fifties. His attacking approach played a key
for “stepping out of his comfort zone” during the you see him experiment and play with more free- role in RCB turning a new leaf in their campaign
last season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), dom. But when that’s not the case, he stays true after just one win in first eight matches, winning
saying that winning the title with Royal Challeng- to his natural game--anchoring the innings when the next six on bounce to make it to the playoffs,
ers Bengaluru (RCB) would be a “perfect finishing needed,” said AB on JioHotstar. where they lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the
touch” to his legendary career. In the first six matches of the season, Virat eliminator.

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