Former Pakistan wicketkeeper batter Rashid Latif lauded Virat Kohli for his match-winning knock against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2024 clash on Monday.
The right-hander looked in good touch as he contributed a quickfire 77 at the top pf the order for Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, hitting 11 fours and two massive sixes against a world-class Punjab Kings bowling line-up that included South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada.
“There are players who play cricket and there are very few players who are improvisers in cricket, that player is Virat Kohli. He hits shots from wherever he thinks and Kohli does not work on a planned script. He is like Viv Richard, who creates his own shots. The runs that Virat has scored after losing his top three batters are very valuable runs.,” Latif said on his YouTube channel ‘Caught Behind’.
It was Kohli’s ability to use his feet and loft the likes of Rabada and Arshdeep over cover that stood out most during his 49-ball stay and the 35-year-old admitted this tactic has been something he has been working on in recent times.
“Well I mean you have to (make additions to your game),” Kohli noted post-match.
“People know I play the cover drive pretty well so they’re not going to allow me to hit gaps and with guys like KG (Rabada) and Arshdeep as well, he’s tall. So, I mean, if they’re hitting length, you have to create some momentum in the ball.
“And once you’re closer to the ball, you kind of negate the bounce that’s going to happen. You meet it earlier.”