Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar feels that Virat Kohli had a huge impact in his cricket carrier by playing in the IPL tournaments.
Ajit Agarkar Praises Virat Kohli
Kohli is widely regarded as the best batsman in all formats of the current generation cricket players.
His success for India has coincided with improving performances in IPL too and to date, he’s the leading run-getter in the league’s history.
“Massive!” said Agarkar on Star Sports’ Cricket Connected when asked about the impact of IPL on Kohli’s career.
“We saw how quick his progress in international cricket has been. So, when you do well there, you are already confident, but then, to be captain of a franchise with such a big fan base, and be as consistent as he is, it certainly helped.”
Kohli has been part of RCB since IPL got underway in 2008 and eventually was handed over the reins of the team.
He led them to the final in 2016 where they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Incidentally, that was the season when Kohli shattered records to score 973 runs in 16 innings – the most every in a single season of the league’s history.
“You’re under pressure every day when you go out to play for RCB. Playing for India is just as big or bigger, but you still are under pressure day in and day out. When you keep getting runs, you know your psyche is just built and you are at ease with your game and he has done that,” said Agarkar.
He added, “I think being captain and getting runs certainly has helped him in his international career as well. I’m sure he’d say that IPL has had a huge say on his career as overall as it has panned out.”
RCB are gunning for a maiden title having earlier made the final thrice but ending as the runners-up on all occasions.
