"No matter which bowler comes, he has reached a zone where there is no match-up" - Mohammad Kaif on Virat Kohli ahead of RCB-CSK IPL 2024 clash
Mohammad Kaif has opined that Virat Kohli has reached a zone where no bowling match-ups will bother him. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opener has been at his majestic best in IPL 2024.
RCB will face the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their final league game in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 18. The hosts need to win the game with a decent margin to pip their opponents to the final playoff berth based on net run rate.
While speaking on Star Sports, Kaif noted that Kohli is like a monk who is not bothered by the happenings around him and that no bowler is likely to trouble him.
"When a hermit goes to the Himalayas, he is in a different zone when he is meditating. Nothing distracts him. Whether there is a loud noise, someone shouts or cries, it doesn't make a difference. Virat Kohli has reached that zone," he said.
"He is not seeing the scorecard and is just in his zone and concentrating. He knows the intent with which he needs to play no matter which bowler, whether it's a fast bowler or a spinner, is in front of him. No matter which bowler comes, he has reached a zone where there is no match-up," the former India batter added.
Kohli is the highest run-getter in IPL 2024. He has amassed 661 runs at a strike rate of 155.16 in 13 innings this season.
"He has come with the passion that he will only be satisfied once he makes his team win" - Mohammad Kaif on Virat Kohli
![Virat Kohli has struck a century and five fifties in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/05/268bb-17159246354268-1920.jpg?w=500)
Mohammad Kaif noted that Virat Kohli is playing with the drive to make RCB win.
"He has come just to dominate. He has come with the passion that he will only be satisfied once he makes his team win, and that has been seen from the second match. In the first match against Chennai, he got out when he pulled a Fizz (Mutafizur Rahman) slower bouncer and (Ajinkya) Rahane took the catch," he observed.
"From the second match against Punjab, he came determined. He was jumping down the track and hitting (Kagiso) Rabada and playing slog sweeps against spinners. You talk about the fourth or fifth gear but he has reached the 15th gear. No one will reach that level," the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
Kohli was dismissed for a 20-ball 21 in the IPL 2024 opener between RCB and CSK. He smashed a match-winning 49-ball 77 in the Bengaluru-based franchise's second game against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and hasn't looked back after that.