‘I believe more in my ability now’ – Kohli

Virat Kohli, who struck his third century of IPL 2016, against Gujarat Lions in Bangalore on Saturday, said that better belief in his ability to clear the boundary and pick gaps has been at the forefront of his consistency in Twenty20 cricket.

Kohli blasted 109 off just 55 balls in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 144-run rout of Lions at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. While the numbers were staggering, it was the manner in which he reached his century that left onlookers stunned. Until the start of the 18th over, Kohli had scored a sedate half-century – 52 off 41 balls – and played second fiddle to a marauding AB de Villiers, before launching a sensational assault in the final three overs. It took the Royal Challengers captain just another 12 balls to steamroll from 52 to 103.

“I see that they [teams] have plans outside the off stump for me and they keep two fielders on the boundary straight away. They want me to do something stupid. At that point, you need to understand that they want you out. They would rather not have you batting on 15 off 20 balls because they know that once you get in you will cash in later,” Kohli told iplt20.com. “But I have come to terms with that. I don’t mind playing run-a-ball for the first 20-25 balls because I know that I can get 40-45 runs in the next 15 balls. Now I believe more in my ability to hit sixes or pick gaps for boundaries in the final overs.”

Kohli …

continue reading in source www.espncricinfo.com

Related Posts

• 
  Anderson becomes No. 1 Test bowler
• 
  Vice-captaincy will not affect my batting – Rahane
• 
  Shaminda Eranga reported for suspect action