Virat Kohli’s dominance at the top of the IPL 2024 run-scorers list stands in stark contrast to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) dismal performance in the tournament. While Kohli has amassed 379 runs in eight matches, including a century against Rajasthan Royals, his team has only managed one victory, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the standings.
As T20 cricket evolves, so do the metrics of success. Gone are the days when the sheer number of runs was the sole indicator of a batter’s contribution. In today’s fast-paced game, the ability to provide impactful knocks at a reasonable strike rate has become paramount. Kohli’s strike rate of 150.39 this season is significantly higher than his overall IPL strike rate of 130.63, but questions remain about whether it’s enough for RCB’s success.
Despite Kohli’s efforts to anchor RCB’s batting lineup, his knocks have often failed to secure victories. In two matches where he scored unbeaten fifties (83 and 113), the team lost after setting reasonable targets of 182/6 and 183/3 against Kolkata and Rajasthan, respectively. These results highlight the importance of a team effort in T20 cricket, where a single player’s performance is not always sufficient for victory.
Kohli’s match-defining knocks have not received adequate support from other RCB batters, leading to the team’s struggles. Even a target of 220 is no longer safe to defend in this batter-centric era, where high strike rates are essential. Kohli’s slow 67-ball hundred against Rajasthan Royals earlier this season serves as an example of how even a substantial contribution may not be enough to win matches in the modern T20 format.
While Kohli remains the poster boy for RCB, the team’s collective performances have fallen short of expectations. RCB’s 249 IPL matches have yielded only 115 victories, with Kohli’s contribution to the team’s wins standing at 20%. This figure, while respectable, raises questions about his role as a ‘match-winner’ for RCB.
As the IPL 2024 season draws to a close, RCB’s playoff hopes are dwindling. Kohli must recognize the need to go beyond run accumulation and average scores. In the modern T20 landscape, strike rate has become a key indicator of a player’s impact, and this is an area where Kohli may need to adjust his approach to help RCB achieve success.
