In his first T20 International appearance since the 2022 World Cup, where India faced a 10-wicket loss to England, Virat Kohli displayed a determined approach to showcase additional dimensions to his batting prowess. While his scorecard may indicate 29 off 16 balls, his batting style and dismissal suggested a willingness to adapt to India’s evolving T20 batting strategy.
Known for accumulating runs early in his innings, Kohli typically displays a diverse range of strokes and accelerates as the innings progresses. However, in Sunday’s T20I, he deviated from his usual approach. Coming in during the first over to replace Rohit Sharma, Kohli was back before the Powerplay concluded, challenging his own batting nature to prove his versatility in T20s.
Facing the first ball from left-armer Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kohli drove it firmly to mid-on. The second delivery, a length ball outside off from spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman, was lofted over mid-off for a boundary. Kohli’s uncharacteristic slog-sweep wide of long-on on the last ball of the same over suggested a premeditated shot, emphasizing his intent to showcase different gears early in the game.
While there were some unconventional hoicks and aerial shots, not typical of Kohli’s technical batting style, they conveyed a message about his adaptability in the T20 format. Recall is made of his straight six against Pakistan’s Haris Rauf during the World Cup, and against Naveen-ul-Haq, Kohli displayed familiarity by hitting a flat-bat shot over the bowler’s head.
Despite a few unorthodox shots, Kohli’s cover-driven boundary off Mujeeb showcased his ability to adapt to varying situations. With Yashasvi Jaiswal aggressively playing at the other end, Kohli aimed to keep pace and emphasize his utility in the T20 format. While much discussion revolves around Kohli’s strike rates, his performance in this match indicated a determination to prove that he possesses a variety of skills in T20 cricket.
