'Every player is different' - Former India skipper Mithali Raj backs Virat Kohli over slow strike rate in T20s

Former India skipper and legendary batter Mithali Raj has started a new stint in his life. She has joined Star Sports as a commentator for the ongoing Indian Premier League. Mithali Raj has observed T20 cricket's emergence, development, and current danger to the popularity of the other two conventional formats very closely.

Meanwhile, speaking with a media house, Mithali talked about the ever-evolving needs of T20 cricket, the function of an impact player, and the uncapped players who have most impressed her. Mithali also spoke about the talk of Virat Kohli's strike rate in the shortest format of the game. She feels that strike rate is important in T20s but not the whole and sole of the game.

While speaking with Hindustan Times, she said, "Every player is different. When we talk about Virat, he is more of a timer. He banks a lot more on fours and running between the wickets than power-hitting. The way he has been starting in the powerplay in this IPL is great. The faster the bowler bowls, the easier it seems for him to dispatch the ball to the boundary. The strike rate that he has against the Pacers is amazing. He must have put in a lot of hard work and that is why we see this remarkable improvement in facing the fast bowlers."

"It should not come down drastically", says Mithali Raj

Further speaking about the strike rate issue Mithali said, "When you play a lot of fast bowling then your footwork is either one step forward or back but against the spinners you have to be lighter on your feet. You need to step out quite often. Maybe that's one of the reasons why this season we see a drop in his strike rate against spinners and he has also gotten out to them."

"But we have to take into consideration that after the first six overs a different phase starts. The field restrictions just get over, more fielders are guarding the boundary so naturally, the strike rate will come down a bit but it should not come down drastically", she further added. Notably, Mithali was the mentor of the Gujarat Giants team during the inaugural season of the Women's Premier League.