In a thrilling performance that propelled his team closer to the playoffs, Royal Challengers Bangalore's star batter Virat Kohli brushed off concerns about his strike rate in the IPL, stating that he pays no attention to external opinions.
Kohli's brilliant century off 63 balls, combined with captain Faf du Plessis' 71 runs, resulted in a partnership of 172 runs, leading RCB to chase down Sunrisers Hyderabad's target of 187 with four balls remaining in an eight-wicket victory.
"I never dwell on past numbers. I already put myself under immense pressure. Sometimes, despite playing impactful innings, I don't give myself enough credit. So, I don't care about what anyone says from the outside. That's their opinion," Kohli expressed during the post-match presentation, addressing his record against SRH.
"When you find yourself in those situations, you know how to win cricket matches. I have done that for a long time. It's not like I don't win matches for my team when I play. I take pride in adapting to the situation," added Kohli, who was awarded the player of the match.
Regarding his tendency to slow down during the middle overs, Kohli emphasized the importance of remaining true to his technique and not playing extravagant shots, especially with Test cricket approaching after the IPL.
"I've never been someone who plays fancy shots. We have to play cricket throughout the year. For me, it's not about playing fancy shots and throwing away my wicket. There's Test cricket coming up, and I have to stay true to my technique and find ways to win games for my team," Kohli stated.
Reflecting on his partnership with du Plessis, Kohli humorously credited their success to their tattoos and compared their synergy to his previous pairing with AB de Villiers. He acknowledged the immense support RCB received from the crowd, even in an away match, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to bring happiness to so many people.