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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has set the cricketing world on fire with its electrifying matches and standout performances. Among the myriad talents on display, one Indian batter has caught the attention of former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif, who drew comparisons between him and the legendary Sir Vivian Richards.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli: Early impressions in IPL 2024
As the league kicked off in style, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli showcased their prowess with the bat, impressing fans and pundits alike. Rohit’s quickfire 43 off 29 deliveries in Mumbai Indians’ opening match against Gujarat Titans (GT) set the tone for his team’s campaign. Meanwhile, Kohli announced himself with a stellar fifty in his second outing for RCB that left everyone in awe.
Notably, this innings holds immense importance for both Kohli and Rohit as the IPL will be followed by the T20 World Cup 2024. Both players will now look to maintain their form in the upcoming matches to enter the world cup event with confidence and form.
Also READ: Former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris predicts the winner of IPL 2024
Rashid Latif names the Indian batter whose style resembles Sir Viv Richards
Although both Rohit and Kohli made a statement with their starts, it was the RCB batter’s exceptional knock of 77 runs off 49 deliveries against Punjab Kings that truly captured the imagination of Latif. Speaking on the Youtube channel ‘Caught Behind,’ Latif showered praise on Kohli’s masterclass, comparing his batting style to that of Sir Viv Richards.
Latif highlighted Kohli’s ability to improvise and create shots spontaneously is much like the West Indian legend. By drawing parallels between Kohli and Richards, Latif not only acknowledged Kohli’s brilliance but also emphasized the significance of his innings.
“There are players who play cricket and there are very few players who are improvisers in cricket, that player is Virat Kohli. He hits shots from wherever he thinks and Kohli does not work on a planned script. He is like Viv Richard, who creates his own shots. The runs that Virat has scored after losing his top three batters are very valuable runs,” remarked Latif.
Kohli’s stellar performance against Punjab Kings silenced his critics who had questioned his suitability for the shortest format of the game. Moreover, it reaffirmed his credentials as one of the premier batters in world cricket.
