New Zealand commentator Simon Doull has been all over the news in the recent weeks after he dropped a major bombshell about the security concerns at Pakistan during his recent visit to the country for PSL 8. While speaking abut the game, Doull recommended to drop Babar Azam from Pakistan T20 line-up for his slow strike rate and also had an argument with his co-commentator.
Doull’s comments on Babar Azam had sparked a lot of controversy and attracted Pro Babar Azam fans outside of his hotel. He said that he was deprived of food and had no access to the outer world. He stirred further more controversy when he said that living in Pakistan is like living in Jail.
But all of that has cooled down for now but Simon Doull has received a reply from Virat Kohli after the Kiwi criticized the latter’s temperament to only play for personal milestones. “Virat Kohli took 10 balls to reach from 42 to 50. There is absolutely no room for personal milestones in this game anymore.” – said Doull.
This occurred earlier in the week when Kohli’s 44-ball 61 against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). After the powerplay, Kohli slowed down against the spinners Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi, requiring 10 balls to go from 42 to 50 before he was out for 61 runs. It took Kohli just 25 balls to reach 42.
The idea that strike rate matters in T20 cricket has been challenged by a former member of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who argues that the role of an anchor in the batting order is more crucial. According to Kohli, the reason batsmen typically take it slow is because those on the outside don’t comprehend the challenges of handling the opposing bowlers after the power play.
Yeah for sure (important anchor role). I completely agree with that, There are many people who because they have not been in that situation themselves, they look at the game differently.” Kohli told Robin Uthappa via JioCinema.
“Suddenly when the powerplay is done, they will be like ‘oh, they have started rotating the strike’. When you haven’t lost a wicket in the powerplay, usually the best player comes on to bowl, you are trying to figure out what to do against him in the first two overs, so that you can get big ones in the last two overs of that guy and then rest of the innings become much easier”
