Former Indian Cricketer Defends Virat Kohli's Dismissal vs Ireland

Virat Kohli had a rough start to the T20 World Cup 2024, managing only 1 run off 5 balls in India’s opener against Ireland in New York on June 5. Attempting aggressive shots from the outset, Kohli was dismissed when he edged a lofted shot off Mark Adair to third man.

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Sanjay Manjrekar Criticizes Virat Kohli Wicket Dismissal vs IRE

During his brief time at the crease, Kohli seemed out of control yet continued to go for big shots, which caught the attention of former India player Sanjay Manjrekar. Manjrekar noted that Kohli appeared to be under pressure to maintain a high strike rate, a criticism he has faced previously.

"I am very surprised that he got out. He got out while trying to play a shot. Somewhere he was feeling the pressure of strike rate. In IPL he managed it. In this match, he didn't need to play a brisk knock. He would have played normally as in such pitches he would not get out if he plays normally as he has the class of Test cricket," said Manjrekar said.

Manjrekar suggested that, given India was chasing a modest target of 97 runs, Kohli could have taken more time to settle in.

Kohli's strike rate had been a topic of debate during the recent Indian Premier League, but he silenced critics with his best-ever performance in terms of strike rate. Kohli won the Orange Cap in IPL 2024, scoring 741 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.70, the highest of his IPL career.

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