IPL 2024: How can Virat Kohli Master Chepauk take on the challenge against CSK? Harbhajan Singh explains

While Virat Kohli has good records against Chennai Super Kings in IPL, the RCB batsman is yet to ignite when it comes to Chepauk.

Virat Kohli is the highest run-getter in the history of IPL.

Chennai: Virat Kohli is way ahead of the rest in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 7263 runs from 237 matches with seven hundreds at a strike rate of 130. But when it comes to the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the former RCB’s average dips captain to 30 and a strike rate of 111. Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh opined that Kohli will have to be at his absolute best when the three-time finalists take on Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2024 opener on March 22 at Chepauk.

Known as ‘King Kohli’, due to his stellar run with the bat, the former India captain has been a nightmare for every bowler in the league for the past 16 years. The next edition will be no different. At Chepauk, which was difficult for batters, Harbhajan opined, Kohli must be at the top of his game.

“Virat’s greatness has diminished in terms of his overall performance at that venue. It’s a tough venue to bat in, especially as an opening batsman against some strange tennis ball type bounce. They have (CSK) the great (Ravindra) Jadeja bowling stump to stump. He makes the odd one out turn, and then the odd one out stays low. It is really difficult,” Harbhajan told Star Sports.

To the unknown, Kohli was dismissed thrice in the Powerplay in his last five innings against CSK, and Harbhajan said the star batsman will have to find a way to bat for longer. “If he is actually willing to bat around 20 overs, he can put in a match-winning performance because two hundreds at the accessible Chinnaswamy doesn’t necessarily guarantee the same at Chepauk,” he said.

For the record, Kohli is just 15 runs short of 1000 runs against Chennai Super Kings from 30 matches with a high of 90. Harbhajan, a former CSK player himself, believes Kohli needs to revive his 2016 form if RCB is to have a wants to try for the coveted title.

“It is important for him to have a season like 2016 because if Virat continues to score points, the team will progress. I don’t know if they will win the cup or not. But with the brilliant individuals they have in their team – Virat, (Glenn) Maxwell, (Cameron) Green and a few more like Patidar – I believe they have a lot of good hitters. and everyone wants Virat to get a repeat of 2016,” he added.

In 2016, Kohli made 973 runs from 16 matches with four hundreds and seven fifties, still the highest number of runs in an IPL season. RCB lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final that year.