AHMEDABAD: Despite 17 years without an IPL title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru coach Andy Flower lauds Virat Kohli’s unwavering passion for the game.
Bengaluru faced elimination from the IPL playoffs by Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad. After the four-wicket loss, a dejected Kohli tipped the bails.
Kohli, 35, topped the Twenty20 tournament’s batting charts with 741 runs, including a century and five fifties, but couldn’t lead his team to victory.
Coach Flower anticipates watching Kohli bat in the T20 World Cup, beginning June 1 in the West Indies and the United States. “Sharing the dressing room with him has been a pleasure,” said Flower, a former Zimbabwe captain and England coach. “As an ex-batsman, watching him bat is a delight.”
In the do-or-die match, Kohli scored 33 at the world’s largest cricket stadium and made an impressive run-out of Dhruv Jurel with a powerful throw.
Flower praised Kohli’s game intelligence and skill. “His aggression and hunger for the game are unmatched. I look forward to seeing him in the World Cup,” he said. “It’s incredible how he continues to evolve his game despite his impressive record.”
Kohli, known for his emotional displays, remained animated throughout the intense match in the scorching heat. He left the field disappointed but retained the orange cap as the highest run-scorer of the tournament.
Critics, including batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, slammed Kohli for his strike rate at the season’s start in the hard-hitting Twenty20 format. However, Kohli, dubbed “King Kohli” for his prolific run-scoring, ended with a strike rate of 154.69 in 15 matches, hitting 38 sixes.
Former teammate AB de Villiers noted Kohli’s ability to thrive under pressure. “Criticism might be a blessing in disguise for him. It motivates him greatly,” De Villiers said on Jio Cinema.
Delhi head coach and Australian great Ricky Ponting also defended Kohli. “It’s funny with Virat,” Ponting told the International Cricket Council. “People in India always try to find a reason why he’s not as good as others in T20. But for me, he’s the first pick for India.”