Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli’s batting strike rate during IPL 2026. He observes that Kohli has increased his batting pace, likely in response to criticism regarding his previous cautious style.
Manjrekar stated that other than the improved strike rate, Kohli’s batting hasn’t changed significantly. He noted that increased pressure and external feedback about Kohli’s performance in the last few years have influenced this shift.
“This will certainly provoke discussions about Virat Kohli. He has been batting well this season at a strike rate of 140-150. This is the same Kohli; nothing has fundamentally changed. He has simply chosen to bat more aggressively to address the mounting pressure and criticism regarding his earlier batting speed,” he said, as reported by Sportstar.
Manjrekar added that maintaining a strike rate near 150 is now typical for Kohli, which differs from previous years. He explained that Kohli once aimed to rotate the strike after hitting a boundary, but now he focuses on attacking, supported by a stronger batting lineup with RCB.
“Three to four years ago, a strike rate of 150 was around 125-130. Kohli would hit a boundary and then take singles or twos to extend his innings. He felt the need to bat longer since he didn’t completely trust the lower-order batters,” he noted.
Currently, Kohli has scored 351 runs in eight innings during IPL 2026, placing him fourth among the top run-scorers this season. He boasts an impressive average of 58.50, which includes three half-centuries and a strike rate of 162.50. This is Kohli’s highest strike rate since he began his IPL career in 2008.