Strike Rate depends on position: Brian Lara defends Virat Kohli’s slow IPL Century

West Indies legend Brian Lara has come into defence of Virat Kohli and has said strike rate depend on the position one bats.

Kohli has been dominating the batting charts at the IPL 2024 but his strike rate has come under scrutiny. Kohli’s 67-ball century is the joint slowest in IPL history.

Talking about the strike rate debate on Star Sports Press Room, former West Indies skipper Lara extended his support to Kohli, who achieved a strike rate of 146.29 in the first five games of the IPL 2024.

“The strike rate depends on position, and for an opener strike-rate of 130-140 is pretty alright. But if you are coming in the middle-order then you may be required to hit at 150 or 160. As you have seen in this IPL, batsmen are hitting at 200 in the latter part of an innings,” Lara said.

“An opener like Kohli always has the chance of starting at 130, bat through the overs and finish at 160 or even higher, which is alright. But if you ask me, India’s top three in the World Cup should be Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill irrespective of all these. And for RCB, it should not be about one person, as it has to be a team effort,” Lara continued.

“I think Rohit and Virat going as openers to the West Indies (for WC) will serve India very well. Though, I think that you should have some youthful punch in the opening. One of the younger players,
showing their mettle, and having one of those experienced players shepherd the innings in the middle-order. Having that whole experience up front, it could have a negative effect if they get dismissed early, so I will use one at top, but use the other at No. 3,” Lara added.