Virat Kohli has 'evolved again,' according to former Australian cricket star David Hussey, who also advised against underestimating the world champion player.
Kohli, who is currently topping the run table for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing Indian Premier League, came under fire for what was seen as a lack of aggressiveness during a recent encounter against KKR.
Kohli and Riyan Parag of RR are tied for the most runs scored with 181 between them in three games, including two fifty-score innings, at a strike rate of 141.4.
Talks concerning Kohli's position in the team have come up as the T20 World Cup draws near, even despite his outstanding Melbourne match against Pakistan.
'Virat Kohli is the leading run scorer, isn't he in the IPL currently?' When asked what he thought of the controversy around Kohli's strike rate, Hussey responded.
'He's a pretty good player. I don't think he's going to have too many issues. If you see the strike rate in this IPL, he seems to have taken his game to a new level, he's evolved again,' On the occasion of the announcement of the Melbourne Cricket Academy's inauguration, Hussey briefed the media about the collaboration between Cricket Victoria and KheloMore.
'You never write off champions, like you never write off Steve Smith, (like) you never write off Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma...'
'You never write them off, and I do not doubt that Virat Kohli, who has dominated for the greater part of a decade, will emerge victorious in the upcoming World Cup. Hussey said, 'Never write off your champions.'
Hussey, who played in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab (formerly the Punjab Kings), and Kolkata Knight Riders, observed that the competition has changed, with clubs adopting a more aggressive strategy in place of the more conservative one.
'It's hit-hit, bang-bang from ball one now, whereas back in 2008, (it) was (about) take your time, get yourself in, try and have wickets in hand at the first 10-over mark and then try and get 180 or 190, (and) that was out of this world,' he stated.
Teams are currently scoring 270 runs, and opposing teams are nearly catching up to them. You're kind of shunned because you don't match the T20 mould and confront a few dot balls early. For this reason, the preparation that's developed from 2008 to the present is incredible – every ball and every over is crucial,' the man stated.
In ten years, the IPL will be completely different, according to Hussey, who was present at the Cricket Club of India with selector and CEO of KheloMore Jatin Paranjape and CEO of Cricket Victoria Nick Cummins.
'The game has evolved out of sight and like Nick (Cummins) said, I can't wait to see what the IPL and what T20 cricket looks like in a decade, because teams might get 300 runs and chase it down, which should be not good for fast bowlers or spinners but it's great for the game of cricket,' he stated.
Hussey said that players who are expected to participate in the T20 World Cup will have a great opportunity to prepare for it in the IPL, adding that he believed Australia will have a selection dilemma heading into the World Cup.
'Isn't there competition among the Australian squad members for spots? Travis Head, who is hitting well, also opens up the batting order, according to Hussey.
'Anybody can beat anybody on their day, the pitch is a different, foreign condition, but the players are very, very fortunate to have the IPL to play in and prepare very well to go to the World Cup and execute their skills,' Hussey stated.
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