Ajinkya Rahane Hails Virat Kohli's 'Game Awareness' and Strike Rotation During Crucial Century
Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane offered detailed praise for Virat Kohli's masterful century in the final ODI against New Zealand, specifically highlighting the Royal Challengers Bangalore star's exceptional game awareness and strike rotation under pressure. Kohli's knock of 124 runs came after India had lost four early wickets, requiring a composed anchor innings to keep the chase alive.
Rahane noted that Kohli's ability to rotate the strike effectively prevented the pressure from mounting on the batting side. He commended Kohli for taking the game deep, recognizing the necessity for an experienced player to bat until the 40th or 45th over. This strategic approach, combined with smart boundary selection, demonstrated Kohli's situational mastery.
This analysis from a peer underscores the value of Kohli's experience, particularly in challenging run chases. Despite India ultimately falling short in the series, Kohli's consistency and composure continue to set him apart, adding another milestone to his career tally of 54 ODI centuries.
This analysis was generated by Third Umpire using official IPL statistics and live match data.
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“What I really liked about his innings was his strike rotation. He never allowed the pressure to build. He took the game deep, which was exactly what needed at that point.”
Ajinkya Rahane, Former India Captain
- Player
- Virat Kohli
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- Batter
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- RCB
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Related Statistics
IPL Career Century Makers Leaders | Batting Rankings
Leading century makers scorers in IPL Career (batting specialists only: batters/all-rounders/wicketkeepers)
| Select | Rank | Player | Team | century-makers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 8 centuries | ||
#2 | Gujarat Titans | 7 centuries | ||
#3 | Delhi Capitals | 5 centuries | ||
| #4 | Gujarat Titans | 4 centuries | ||
| #5 | Chennai Super Kings | 3 centuries |
Select 2 or more players using the checkboxes to compare their statistics side-by-side
More Stats Referenced
Open the full leaderboard for detailed rankings.
| Statistic |
|---|
IPL Career Most Boundaries Leaders | Batting Rankings Led by Virat Kohli (1062 boundaries) |
IPL Career Leading Wicket Takers Leaders | Bowling Rankings Led by Yuzvendra Chahal (221 wickets) |
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“What I really liked about his innings was his strike rotation. He never allowed the pressure to build. He took the game deep, which was exactly what needed at that point.”
Ajinkya Rahane, Former India Captain
- Player
- Virat Kohli
- Specialization
- Batter
- Team
- RCB
- Analyze
- Analyze Performance
- Team
- Team Performance