Sanjay Manjrekar has attributed Virat Kohli’s improved IPL returns to a conscious effort to bat faster.
Since the start of the 2024 season, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener has scored 1777 runs at a strike-rate of 152.93, and in the preceding 16 seasons, only twice (2009 and 2016) had his strike-rate exceeded his strike-rate in these three seasons.
“He’s the same Virat Kohli, nothing has changed,” Manjrekar said on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast. ”It’s only that he has decided that he is going to bat quicker, and why has he decided? Because he could see the pressure building, people talking about him batting a little too slow.”
“Four years ago, this 150 strike-rate was 125-130, and it was only because he would hit a boundary then pick up a one or to extend his innings longer. He felt that he had to be the man batting most of the innings, and didn’t quite trust the batters down the order.”
Manjrekar also suggested that Kohli’s improved intent had benefitted the rest of the RCB batting order, saying, “RCB changed when Virat Kohli started batting a little quicker, and didn’t make himself indispensable. That’s when the others under him (in the batting order) blossomed.”
“I don’t think there is too much scope to pick up ones and twos in T20s. When you have eight batters for just 20 overs, you have to try and maximise. You’re just allowing the opposition to come into the game if you’re focussing on ones and twos just to extend the innings,” Manjrekar further added.
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The 60-year-old also drew a parallel between Kohli’s renaissance and KL Rahul’s improved returns with the bat for Delhi Capitals. Rahul, who was often criticised for his lack of intent with the bat for Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, has had a much stronger season for DC this year, scoring 433 runs at a strike-rate of 185.83.
“The way KL Rahul was batting for Punjab Kings, where he felt he was the key batter in the side, somewhere he felt he had almost the privilege to take his time to extend the innings, it shouldn’t have happened. T20 cricket is not about anybody thinking their wicket is important, there are eight players, any player can have a great day,” Manjrekar said.
“So, just trying to extend the innings, a lot of the players have realised that it is coming into the spotlight and people are talking about it. You saw Virat Kohli responding to it last year, and this year KL Rahul moreso, and the team benefits,” Manjrekar said.
“If you have someone who is conscious about getting fifties, and worried about getting out, that guy is a liability to a T20 team.”
Published on May 02, 2026