The Clash between two players is more intriguing to watch compared to two teams. As Rand Kolkata Knight Riders set off to face each other today at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Steve Smith in an evening show expressed his opinion on the contest between the stupendous batting of Virat Kohli and the fire fast bowling of Mitchell Starc in the upcoming Match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders.
The previous battles:
Though Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc have never faced each other in previous IPL seasons, Virat Kohli’s utmost runs against Mitchell Starc’s bowling was 47 in T20s. Starc is playing his first IPL match since 2015 in which he was picked by RCB. As both Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc have been a part of RCB in the 2014 IPL season, both haven’t had a chance to face off against the other in IPL.
Kohli has faced 28 deliveries from fast pacer Starc and scored 47 runs without getting dismissed from Starc’s bowling. Virat’s average batting against left-arm pace goes up to 31.53 in all T20 formats with 52 dismissals.
Steve Smith’s Opinion:
Steve Smith, an Australian player, commented on the interesting rivalry between Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc and expressed his enthusiasm to witness the encounter between Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc. “ I quite like [Starc’s] match-up to Virat, the ability to swing the ball back down the line as a lefty,” Steve Smith said. He further points out that Kohli has stumbled to the bowling of left-handed pacers before, “We have seen him get out on a few occasions to Shaheen Afridi, Trent Boult, Mohammad Amir, So I quite like the left-handed match-up.”
Steve Smith who played numerous games with Mitchell Starc, points out that Mitchell Starc should try to bowl a bit wider like Sam Curran did in the match between SRH and RCB which almost secured the wicket of Virat Kohli until Bairstow missed the catch in the slip.
Steve Smith predicts that “Starc’s going to swing the ball back down the line early on, I’d imagine, and then use the wobble seam to go across him [Kohli], and potentially try and nick him off” and he added that “It’s going to be a good game, and I’m aware Virat would know how Starc’s trying to attack him as well – whether he tries to potentially come down the track just take the swing out of play. It’s going to be interesting to see how he counters it.” The audience is expecting the same, to witness a gripping match against KKR and RCB today at Chinnaswamy Stadium.
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