Virat Kohli Unveils Strategy for Upcoming T20 World Cup
Indian cricket sensation, Virat Kohli, acknowledges the need for continuous refinement of his game to stay in sync with the ever-evolving T20 cricket.
Following his Player of the Match performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), Kohli shared insights into his batting strategy. This comes just months before the commencement of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.
Kohli, a right-handed batsman, showcased his form by scoring a swift 77 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. His performance included 11 fours and two towering sixes against the formidable Punjab Kings bowling line-up, featuring South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, England’s Sam Curran, and fellow Indian player, Arshdeep Singh.
Kohli’s ability to use his feet and loft the ball over cover against bowlers like Rabada and Arshdeep was a highlight of his 49-ball innings. The 35-year-old admitted that this tactic has been a recent addition to his game strategy.
“You have to keep evolving your game,” Kohli stated in the post-match interview. “Opponents know my strength in cover drives, so they try to prevent me from hitting gaps. Against tall bowlers like Rabada and Arshdeep, you have to create momentum in the ball and negate the bounce by meeting it earlier.”
Kohli, who was the leading run-scorer in the last T20 World Cup in Australia, is expected to play a crucial role in India’s squad for this year’s tournament, provided he is selected. This would mark his sixth appearance in the 20-over showcase.
India will finalize a 15-player squad before the tournament starts on June 1. Kohli is committed to working hard to excel in the shortest format of the game.
“You need to constantly come up with game plans and strive to improve,” Kohli added. “Despite my name being associated with promoting T20 cricket globally, I believe I still have a lot to offer.”
After taking a break from India’s home Test series against England to spend time with his family and welcome his second child, Kohli recently returned to the IPL. He enjoyed the anonymity and family time during his break from professional cricket.
“We were in a place where people didn’t recognize us. It was a surreal experience to feel normal for two months,” Kohli shared. “Having two kids changes family dynamics. The connections you make with your older child are amazing. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with my family.”
“Returning home, the voices felt louder. I wasn’t used to being called by my name for two months. But it was beautiful to just be another person on the road, not recognized, and living life as people normally do on a daily basis,” he added.