Why Virat Kohli is the ultimate storm chaser of ODI Cricket
The chase master Virat Kohli went about his business in the truest sense and some of the numbers he has racked up are absolutely staggering in terms of One Day International (ODI) cricket. We are watching mastery in action. Virat Kohli, a key figure in the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, has been hailed as a storm chaser in One Day International (ODI) cricket. His impressive performance in a tough chase against New Zealand, which saw him as the leading run scorer among all teams with 354 runs. Since his debut, Kohli has been batting second and third out of his 48 centuries in ODIs while chasing. His calm approach and ability to control the game is what makes him special. Since the World Cup, India has chased in all five games and Kohli averages 118 in this year's World Cup. He uses a precise approach to chase totals and his own understanding of his own game to minimise his shortcomings.
Published : 2 years ago by Abhinav Mukund in Sports
"Send me into the storm and I’ll return as your guiding light," posted Virat Kohli's Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), with his significant other, Anushka Sharma going one better in saying that he is a storm chaser. Well, there’s a lot of truth in this statement because one man stood tall amidst the peaks of the Dhauladhar range in Dharamshala in a tough chase against undefeated New Zealand on Sunday.
The chase master Virat Kohli went about his business in the truest sense and some of the numbers below are absolutely staggering in terms of One Day International (ODI) cricket. We are watching mastery in action.
Since 2011, India has chased on 18 occasions in World Cups and won 15 of them. But, just this year’s World Cup India has chased in all 5 games and Virat has three half-centuries and an unbeaten hundred to his name. He averages 118 in this World Cup, becoming the leading run scorer amongst all teams in the process with 354 runs to his name.
What stands out with Virat Kohli is a zen like approach in chases. He understands the situation and moulds his game perfectly according to conditions to ensure India gets across the line. Since his debut, he averages more batting second than first which goes completely against the norm for most batters.
27 out of his 48 centuries in ODIs have also come while chasing and this is a reputation that he has built over the years. If he is around during a chase, you know the game is well within India’s sight.
Even though Virat Kohli didn’t get to the magical three figure mark against New Zealand, his 95 was enough to seal the game for India. It was an innings where he showed supreme batsmanship and incredible game awareness to get India across the line in a tough game.
The start of the chase
On a slow pitch, pace on the ball was a boon to work with. The fastest bowler on show Lockie Ferguson was Virat's favourite, whom he took him on with ease. Three boundaries in his first spell helped Kohli move on to 18 of 21. Four out of his seven boundaries came against Ferguson. The plan was clear - to take on the bowlers that were offering up some pace to work with.
The start that Rohit Sharma gave India ensured that Virat Kohli could take up a bit of time. It was the toughest phase to bat in the game and runs didn’t come easy. In my preview for this game, I mentioned how the left arm spin of Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra could pose a challenge for Kohli.
Incredibly, he played them out without taking unnecessary risks. Just one boundary against the duo, which was a maximum over extra cover Ravindra who bowled a loopy delivery outside off stump that was there to be hit. He was on 28 of 47 balls at this point and another player at this same stage would have been anxious in a tough chase! Not Kohli. He had it planned in his head. Play out the left arm spin.
A massive mix-up between Suryakumar Yadav and Kohli which resulted in the run out of the former left India in a dicey position at 191/5, still needing 82. Kohli absolutely shut out the game with minimal risk. Just two boundaries- one off Ferguson and one off part timer Glenn Philipps, but he had made up his mind. This was only going to be done by rotation of strike and using his fitness to run hard and place the ball in gaps.
Only till the game was almost done, did he pull out the big shots in pursuit of a century which unfortunately didn’t come, but the writing on the wall was sealed for New Zealand. The chase master did it again. The incredible ironclad resolve combined with nerves of steels, and add to that the reputation he has built over the years in chases is what makes Virat Kohli special. With pinpoint precision, he employs a machine-like approach to chasing totals in ODIs.
When to take a risk, which bowler to go after, what shots to play on that pitch and furthermore a complete understanding of his own game to minimise his shortcomings and maximise his strengths. Chaos maybe swirling all around in a storm, therefore the calmest place maybe is in the eye of the storm. Often, right in the centre of it all - unfazed by the chaos stands one man - the storm chaser Virat Kohli.
Topics: Sports Figures, Virat Kohli