There Is A Reason You Do It For 15 Years: Virat Kohli Slams 'Strike-Rate' Critics Amid T20 WC Selection Debate

Just days ahead of India's squad announcement for the T20 World Cup 2024, Virat Kohli shut down any debates over his spot in the team as the Indian cricket legend continued his red-hot form in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with an unbeaten knock of 70 in 44 balls as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by nine wickets.

Kohli has been in stunning form in the 2024 IPL, with a tally of 500 runs in 10 matches at an average and strike rate of 71.42 and 147.49, respectively, which sees him maintain a massive lead in the orange cap race. Coming into the 2024 IPL, several cricket experts had doubted Kohli's place in India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad despite his comeback into the Indian team in the shortest format for the Afghanistan series in January.

After his match-winning knock against the Titans, Kohli fired back at his critics and questioned their credentials. The 35-year-old slammed people for questioning his strike rate and ability to play spin and stated it was easy to make such remarks from the commentator box.

"All people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones who love talking about this stuff [numbers]. But for me it's just about winning the game for the team. And there is a reason why you do it for 15 years. Because you have done this day in and out. You have won games for your teams. I am not quite sure. If you have not been in that situation yourself, to sit and to speak about the game from a box. I don't really think its the same thing. So, for me its about just doing my job. People can talk about their ideas and assumptions of the game but those who have done it day in and out, know what's happening and it's kind of a muscle memory for me now," said Kohli in a post-match chat with the broadcasters.

Kohli created history by becoming only the second player in history to have seven 500+ run IPL seasons alongside David Warner.