Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has criticized Virat Kohli’s slow batting performance during the 19th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Virender Sehwag has also stated that Virat Kohli failed to accelerate his strike rate even after reaching the fifty as well. However, Virat Kohli became the first centurion in the ongoing IPL season, reaching the feat in 67 deliveries. Kohli faced criticism for his slow-paced innings, as he became the joint slowest century in IPL history as well.

Speaking to Cricbuzz during the mid-innings break, Virender Sehwag said, “I felt RCB scored about 20 runs less. About Virat Kohli, his knock was great, but there was nobody to support him. Karthik did not come…so there were no big hitters to accompany him and those who came did not to work. Yes Kohli’s strike rate should have definitely increased because when you score 50 in 39 balls, then you tend to score at a quicker rate thereafter. The strike rate automatically then almost touches 200. He made a mistake there for sure.”

However, RCB had a great start with Kohli and Du Plessis forming a formidable opening pair. The duo added a 53-run stand within the powerplay. But later on, he didn’t get support from the other players and scored 62% of the total runs as well. Notably, in the game, they added a 125-run opening partnership, but lost the game as Jos Buttler managed to score a hundred and seal the deal.

“But then rest of the batters did not do anything. The entire pressure was on Kohli. Moreover, it is his role to hold one end of the crease and allow batters to on the other end to flourish, on whom RCB spent so much to acquire them – Maxwell, Green,” Sehwag added.