From 2020 to 2022, one of cricket’s most celebrated modern-day batters, Virat Kohli, unexpectedly found himself grappling with a crisis of form. A player known for his technical mastery and mental toughness, Kohli's struggles began to unravel as he found himself vulnerable against both pace and spin. The moving ball exposed cracks in his defence, and spinners, especially on turning subcontinental tracks, proved to be his undoing. The murmurs of critics turned into a clamor, as every dismissal became fodder for relentless analysis. The legend of Kohli was, for the first time in a decade, under genuine threat.
According to a Wisden analysis, Kohli was dismissed 11 times in Tests played in India from 2020 onward, nine of which came at the hands of spinners like Ajaz Patel, Jack Leach, Lasith Embuldeniya, and Rachin Ravindra. Spin, a domain where he had previously reigned supreme, suddenly became his Achilles heel. In parallel, fast bowlers exploited his old nemesis—the probing line outside the fourth and fifth stump—baiting him into mistakes early in his innings.
Echoes of 2014: Technical Flaws Resurface
Kohli's recent struggles bore eerie similarities to his lean patch during the 2014 England tour, where he fell prey to James Anderson's relentless precision. Back then, he explained to former England captain Nasser Hussain that his back toe had been angled toward cover rather than point, causing his stance to open up and exposing the edge of his bat. Expecting inswingers, Kohli found himself drawn into playing deliveries pitched further outside off-stump.
However, after consulting with Sachin Tendulkar, he made crucial adjustments—aligning his back toe toward point, adopting an off-stump guard, and batting outside the crease to negate swing and turn good-length deliveries into half-volleys. This reboot had worked wonders, helping Kohli reach new heights, and the technique became the bedrock of his dominance for years. But post-2019, as form deserted him, these technical fundamentals faltered.
Sunil Gavaskar aptly observed:
"He has amassed over 8,000 Test runs with his back-and-across movement, but now the bat and foot are moving in different directions. He’s playing at deliveries far outside off-stump, often too early in the innings."
At his peak, Kohli combined fluency and aggression with unshakable intent—using the back-and-across trigger to unleash the signature whip through midwicket and control the bowlers by playing deep in the crease. But by 2020, his game seemed fragmented, as if stuck between past methods and new uncertainties. The old plan, which had brought him great success, now required a recalibration.
The Reset: Embracing Flaws and Adapting to Change
Kohli's realization was blunt but transformative: cricket demands evolution, and to evolve, one must acknowledge weaknesses. He went back to the drawing board—introspecting, refining, and embracing simplicity. Against spinners, he consciously moved either fully forward or decisively back, minimizing the chances of being caught on the crease. He also reworked his stance, adopting a two-eyed, open setup, helping him judge the line better and complement his back-foot trigger movement.
More than technique, the change was philosophical—Kohli began to emphasize strike rotation and trusted time at the crease over flamboyance. His batting became less about aesthetic aggression and more about effective accumulation, channelling a mindset reminiscent of Javed Miandad—a player who excelled by grinding out runs and keeping his team afloat in challenging situations.
This mental adjustment saw Kohli prioritize calm resilience over bravado. In the second act of his career, he became the batter who would weather storms, absorb pressure, and pace the innings with precision. His resurgence wasn’t just a technical correction—it was the birth of a mindset that embraced patience and adaptability as virtues.
The Redemption Arc: A Masterclass at Dharamsala
In the 2023 ICC World Cup group-stage match against New Zealand at Dharamsala, Kohli demonstrated exactly why he remains one of the most revered batters in the game. On a tricky surface where the ball gripped and spun, India was in a precarious position, losing five wickets with 83 runs still to get.
This was a situation tailor-made for the new Kohli—not the marauding run-machine of old, but the craftsman who would sculpt a victory out of adversity. New Zealand’s left-arm orthodox bowlers tightened the screws, but Kohli did not flinch. Rather than chasing the game, he let the game come to him. His footwork was measured, his shot selection immaculate. He occupied the crease with quiet authority, nudging singles and doubles, refusing to let the pressure overwhelm him.
It was not a display of flamboyant stroke-play but a masterclass in temperament. The Kohli of today wins battles of attrition—absorbing the bowling attack’s best spells, maintaining composure, and pouncing on the occasional loose delivery. The more the opposition tried to choke him, the deeper he dug. Every run was a statement of intent, every shot a reminder of his resilience.
In Dharamsala, Kohli proved that greatness is not just about hitting cover drives; it is about knowing when not to play them.
The Evolution of a Legend
Virat Kohli’s transformation exemplifies how elite athletes must continually evolve to stay relevant. His second innings as a batter is not just a revival of form—it is a testament to the power of introspection and reinvention. If the first version of Kohli thrived on audacity and flair, the second version thrives on grit and pragmatism.
Kohli’s legacy will not merely be defined by the records he sets but by how he redefined himself when confronted with failure. Like a captain steering a ship through stormy seas, he navigates tricky pitches and tight bowling attacks with steady hands and a calm mind. His batting now embodies a philosophy: to outlast the storm, to fight smarter, and to let the game’s rhythm flow through patience.
This evolution mirrors the arc of every great athlete’s career—falling, learning, rising again. Kohli’s journey from form loss to redemption is not just about fixing techniques or scoring runs; it is about rediscovering one’s essence as a player and a person.
As long as there is pressure to absorb, Virat Kohli will flourish—proving time and again that, while talent is transient, resolve is eternal.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment