World Cup 2024: Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Kohli divulges his game plan: The seasoned player from India has shared some details about the areas of his game that he has been honing and his recent activities away from the pitch.
India’s star player Virat Kohli is aware that in order to stay up with the changing T20 cricket landscape, he must constantly improving his game.
After winning Player of the Match for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday, and only a few months before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean kicked off, Kohli talked about the finer nuances of his batting.
At M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the right-hander looked in fine form as he amassed a rapid 77 at the top of the order for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
He struck two enormous sixes and eleven fours against the elite Punjab Kings bowling attack, which included South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, England’s Sam Curran, and India teammate Arshdeep Singh.
During his 49-ball stint, Kohli’s ability to use his feet and loft players like Rabada and Arshdeep over cover stood out the most.The 35-year-old acknowledged that he has been focusing on this technique recently.
“Well I mean you have to (add something to your game),” Kohli said after the match.“People know I play cover drives very well so they won’t let me hit the gap and even with guys like KG (Rabada) and Arshdeep, they are tall.
So, I mean, if they are tall. While bowling the ball, you have to generate some speed in the ball.”And once you get closer to the ball, you negate the bounce that happens. You deal with it earlier.”
After finishing the most recent T20 World Cup in Australia with 296 runs from six innings, Kohli will be a key member of the Indian team if he gets selected for what would be his sixth participation at the 20-over showcase.
Before the event starts on June 1, India must finalise a roster of 15 players, and Kohli is committed to keep working hard to ensure that he succeeds in the shortest format.
“You have to come up with a game plan here and there and try to improve your game,” Kohli said.
“I know that these days when it comes to T20 cricket, my name is associated with promoting the game in many parts of the world. But, I think, I’ve still got it.”
Kohli missed India’s home Test series against England in order to spend time with his family and have his second kid with wife Anushka. He only recently made a comeback to the playing field during the Indian Premier League.
The famous batsman disclosed that he relished the novelty of not being identified on a regular basis while taking a break from the demands of playing professional cricket outside of India.
Kohli said, “We were not in the country. We were in a place where people were not recognizing us. Just spent time together as a family for two months to feel normal.”
“For me, for us as a family, it was a surreal experience. Of course, having two kids, things are completely different from a family standpoint. So just the ability to be together, the connections that you get with your older self.” Let’s meet with the child.” Create with the child, it’s wonderful.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2024: Global cricket stars end the wait for a crucial IPL ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup\
For more update: ICC