Virat Kohli says, "People have forgotten the importance of partnerships, not only about power hitting," after winning Orange cap

Delhi: The RCB opener rescued his team from an early collapse during the power play, proving his mettle on a challenging Delhi pitch where timing was difficult and boundaries were hard to come by. Facing these conditions, Kohli and Krunal Pandya chose patience over aggression, building a match-winning partnership.

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"I look at the total on the board, the conditions, the bowlers who are due to bowl, who are the bowlers who are going to be hard to get away," Kohli explained in his post-match interview. This calculated approach shows his deep understanding of the game's nuances, prioritizing efficiency over flashy stroke play.

The Art of Strike Rotation

Kohli's 51 runs from 47 balls, which included just four boundaries, highlighted his commitment to keeping the scoreboard moving through ones and twos. While his innings strike rate of 108.51 might seem modest by modern T20 standards, his approach proved perfect for the conditions.

"I try and make sure my singles and doubles don't stop and then you keep getting the odd boundary in between, so the game doesn't get stagnant," said the 36-year-old veteran. "That's always been my focus, keep working on rotating the strike."

This strategy, often overlooked in the highlight reels of massive sixes, demonstrates the cricket intelligence that has kept Kohli at the pinnacle of the sport across formats for over a decade.

Partnerships: The Forgotten Art of T20

Perhaps Kohli's most pointed observation was regarding the diminishing emphasis on partnerships in the shortest format. "People are forgetting the importance of partnerships or going deep into the innings in T20s," he noted. "This year you're seeing that you can't just come out and tee off from ball one."

The 119-run partnership between Kohli and Krunal Pandya for the fourth wicket became the backbone of RCB's successful chase. Pandya's contribution was particularly noteworthy as he encouraged Kohli to anchor the innings while he took calculated risks.

"We've communicated beautifully," Kohli acknowledged. "Krunal kept telling me to stay while he took his chances."

The Balance of Experience and Power

While Kohli and Pandya laid the foundation, RCB's depth of power hitters provided the perfect balance to their strategic approach. Tim David's explosive finish against Mukesh Kumar in the penultimate over exemplified how effective this combination can be.

"We have the extra power in Tim David, there's Jitesh as well. That firepower at the back end of the innings definitely helps you. And now Romario as well," Kohli added, highlighting the team's versatile batting lineup.

The Orange Cap Journey

With this latest performance, Kohli has surpassed Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav to claim the orange cap. His IPL 2025 statistics tell a compelling story of consistency and adaptability:

• 443 runs from 10 innings

• Average of 63.29

• Six half-centuries

• Season strike rate of 138.87

These numbers reflect a batter who can both accelerate when needed and adapt to challenging conditions—an invaluable skill set in the uncertainty of T20 cricket.

Professional Approach to T20 Cricket

Kohli's emphasis on "professionalism" in reading match situations represents a mature evolution in T20 batting philosophy. "You need to have professionalism to read the situation and try and get into a position where you can start dominating the bowlers," he stated firmly.

His most telling insight came when he addressed the skills required for success on challenging surfaces: "It won't come easy on a slow pitch if you don't know how to rotate the strike. So that's pretty much my method."