How Virat Kohli Adjusted His Technique to Help Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli has made small changes to his batting technique that have helped him and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) perform well in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Former India cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Irfan Pathan noticed this shift. Last season, Kohli scored 657 runs, and he started the IPL with an unbeaten 69 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, he was dismissed for 28 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a recent match.

Ashwin explained that Kohli has moved away from his controlled Test cricket approach to a more dynamic style in IPL. This change allows him to play shots more freely and stay in better positions to hit aggressively. Ashwin noted that Kohli’s bat movement is now more active, using potential energy to create momentum for bigger shots.

Kohli’s focus is now on ODIs and the 2027 World Cup, which has given him time to recover fully and maintain mental freshness. This break from Test cricket also helps him manage the physically demanding IPL schedule since he first joined in 2008.

Irfan Pathan agreed with Ashwin, saying Kohli’s adjusted backlift gives him more power and momentum, improving his strike rate. Pathan explained that moving the bat before delivery creates the necessary energy for big shots.

Kohli and RCB will next face Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on April 10 and Mumbai Indians on April 12. Meanwhile, Kohli recently surpassed Rohit Sharma’s record for the most IPL runs against a single team, scoring 1174 runs against CSK compared to Rohit’s 1161 against Kolkata Knight Riders.

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