Virat Kohli, the star India batter, has been scoring runs in all formats for the last decade. He has been the best player across all formats and from 2016-2019, he was basically ruling all the 3 formats. However, there have definitely been some dark phase in his career just like any other batter, when run scoring was really tough. One such phase happened when Kohli toured England for the first time in 2014. James Anderson was basically getting him out in every innings and he was nicking balls on the off stump helplessly. Kohli went through a really tough time in the tour of England, where he registered scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0, 7, 6, and 20 in five Tests at an average of 13.50 in 10 innings. Practically, he was nicking every ball to slips or to the wicketkeeper.
However, things changed in the next away tour of Australia in 2014-15, where Kohli reigned supreme and scored 692 runs in 4 matches at an average of 86.50. So, what changes did he make in his technique after that disastrous tour of England in 2024? Kohli himself has revealed this in an interview.
One Big Change Virat Kohli Made After Losing The Battle To James Anderson
Virat Kohli reflected on the difficulties he faced during the 2014 Test series in England, pointing out that his hip positioning was a significant issue. He realized that his failure to adjust to the conditions and his rigid approach contributed to his struggles. This realization was a painful but important learning experience for him.
After the series, Kohli sought advice from Sachin Tendulkar. During their sessions in Mumbai, he focused on correcting his hip position. Tendulkar emphasized the importance of taking a big stride and using a forward press against fast bowlers. Once Kohli implemented these changes with proper hip alignment, he began to see improvements. His confidence grew, and he carried this improved technique into the subsequent tour of Australia.
Ravi Shastri, who was the team director at the time, gave Virat Kohli crucial advice that significantly impacted his game. Shastri called both Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to his room for a discussion. During their talk, Shastri suggested that Kohli should try standing outside the crease while batting. He explained that this approach allows the batsman to control the space they’re playing in and reduces the opportunities for bowlers to get them out. By standing outside the crease, many potential dismissals are avoided, and it helps the batsman better understand their positioning. Kohli started practicing this technique during the subsequent tour in Australia and saw remarkable results.
In the next tour of England, Anderson could not get Kohli out once. Kohli decided to stand outside the crease to Anderson and Broad. He tried to meet the ball before it starts to swing. He was mighty determined and the results came in his favour.
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