Former India batter Ajay Jadeja said it is unfair to expect Virat Kohli to bat at the strike rate of someone like Andre Russell, pointing out that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star has found ways to solve the puzzle in his own manner over the years. Kohli is among the leading run-scorer in IPL 2025 with 443 runs, but his strike rate of 138.87 is the lowest among the top 10 batters this season.
Ajay Jadeja, a JioStar expert for IPL 2025, said the problem lies with the critics, not with Kohli, when it comes to discussions about his strike rate.
The former India cricketer argued that it is unfair to expect Kohli to play at a higher strike rate after having seen him dominate bowling attacks with his own unique method over the years.
“If he (a critic) thinks Kohli can suddenly play like Andre Russell, then the person is asking for the sake of asking. If you really look at the 18-year career of the man, then every sportsman, even the greatest, has their own ceiling, their own style, their own strengths. His strength is consistency. His strength is winning games. His strength is understanding the game and solving that same jigsaw puzzle in his own way,” Jadeja said.
“He certainly does not have that strike rate, he is never going to have the strike rate of someone like Russell – and if he tried to, he would not have the consistency he has,” he added.
