Ajinkya Rahane has offered insights into Virat Kohli’s approach to run chases in limited-overs cricket, attributing his success to his mental calculations. Rahane also reflected on his strong batting partnership with Kohli in Test cricket, highlighting their complementary styles.
Kohli’s Chasing Prowess
Virat Kohli is widely recognized for his ability to successfully chase targets in One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. Rahane believes that Kohli’s effectiveness in these situations stems from his strategic thinking during an innings. Kohli maintains composure even when the required run rate increases or wickets fall, demonstrating sharp game awareness and an understanding of when to attack.
His statistics when batting second are notable in one-day cricket, consistently producing match-winning performances for India in chases. Kohli holds the record for the most centuries in successful ODI run chases, having reached three figures 22 times in victories while batting second. This achievement surpasses other prominent batters, with Sachin Tendulkar having 14 hundreds in winning chases and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting recording eight.
Rahane explained that Kohli’s primary strength is not solely his technique but his mental approach during a chase. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Rahane mentioned that he has attempted to understand the secret behind Kohli’s consistent success but has not received a direct answer. Rahane described Kohli’s calculations as fearless, particularly in knowing when to take risks.
Former England captain Alastair Cook also commented on Kohli’s unique method for chasing, noting his ability to take what appears to be a significant risk but is not a risk for him. Kohli’s decision-making under pressure is a key factor that distinguishes him. His consistent performance over more than fifteen years in chasing situations highlights his ability to thrive under mental pressure.
Kohli’s chasing average across all chases remains higher than his career average, suggesting that his success is not dependent on favorable conditions or weaker opposition, but rather on his mental fortitude and understanding of the game.
Partnership in Test Cricket
Rahane also discussed his partnership with Virat Kohli in Test cricket, where they have accumulated 3661 runs from 67 innings together. During a conversation on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel, Rahane explained that their success came from complementing each other’s styles.
He described Kohli’s aggressive nature paired with his own calm demeanor as a beneficial combination for their partnerships. Rahane emphasized that positive and frank communication between them while batting was a significant factor in their successful collaborations.
Rahane also recalled a run-out incident involving Kohli during the first Test match against Australia in Adelaide in December 2020. Kohli, who was batting on 74 runs in the first innings, was run out due to a miscommunication with Rahane. India was subsequently bowled out for 36 runs in the second innings of that match. Rahane recounted his instinctual call for a run, followed by his realization that Josh Hazlewood was in a position to effect the run-out, leading to Kohli being halfway down the pitch.
Following Rahane’s retirement from international cricket, Kohli shared a message for him, referring to Rahane as his favorite Test batting partner. Kohli’s message acknowledged Rahane’s contributions to Indian cricket and praised his fielding as the safest pair of hands in the slips.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
