Follow UsFormer Indian player Mohammad Kaif feels that Virat Kohli is currently in a zone where no one can disturb him. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener has been in phenomenal form in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024.
Kohli is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament, having smashed 661 runs across 13 innings at an average of 66.10 and a strike rate of 155.16.
Speaking on Star Sports, Kaif said: “When a hermit goes to the Himalayas, he is in a different zone when he is meditating. Nothing distracts him. Whether there is a loud noise, someone shouts or cries, it doesn't make a difference. Virat Kohli has reached that zone.
"He is not seeing the scorecard and is just in his zone and concentrating. He knows the intent with which he needs to play no matter which bowler, whether it's a fast bowler or a spinner, is in front of him. No matter which bowler comes, he has reached a zone where there is no match-up.”
What stands out is his strike rate. Never in an IPL season has he scored runs at a better rate. "He has come just to dominate. He has come with the passion that he will only be satisfied once he makes his team win, and that has been seen from the second match. In the first match against Chennai, he got out when he pulled a Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) slower bouncer and (Ajinkya) Rahane took the catch," Kaif added.
"From the second match against Punjab, he came determined. He was jumping down the track and hitting (Kagiso) Rabada and playing slog sweeps against spinners. You talk about the fourth or fifth gear but he has reached the 15th gear. No one will reach that level.”
RCB are set to play their last league match against CSK on May 18. They have to win that game by a decent margin (18 runs or 11 deliveries to spare) to qualify for the playoffs. Currently, CSK's NRR stands at +0.528, slightly higher than RCB's +0.387.
Once the IPL is over, Kohli will head to the West Indies and the USA for the T20 World Cup.
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