Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian cricket legend, shared some insights on Virat Kohli’s recent batting style and how it’s changing the game for bowlers. He mentioned that Kohli has been looking to play big shots right from the start of his innings, which makes him a real challenge for opposing bowlers. In the past, Kohli would tend to save those lofted shots for later in the innings, but now he’s taking risks early on, which keeps bowlers on edge.
During a recent match, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored an impressive 221 runs for five wickets. Kohli played an explosive innings, scoring 67 runs off just 42 balls, and captain Rajat Patidar contributed with a strong 64 runs. Kohli’s quick scoring was especially noteworthy, especially since it was Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback game after an injury and he didn’t manage to take a wicket.
Gavaskar pointed out that this aggressive approach has flipped the way bowlers think. Previously, they would prepare for Kohli’s classic drives and flicks but now they have to deal with balls sailing over their heads for boundaries right from the beginning. This shift in Kohli’s strategy has caught many bowlers off guard.
On another note, Gavaskar also addressed Rohit Sharma’s performance with the Mumbai Indians, suggesting that he needs to be more careful about his shot selection. Rohit’s early dismissal can be quite damaging, not just for his team in the IPL, but also for India. Gavaskar believes Rohit should pick his moments to play aggressively, especially in the power play overs.
In the game, Rohit went out after only scoring 17 runs, falling to a delivery from Yash Dayal, who was bowling well. Suryakumar Yadav, another key player, struggled to find his rhythm, scoring 28 runs off 26 balls.
Lastly, Gavaskar reflected on Jasprit Bumrah’s return after a three-month break due to a back injury. He expressed relief and excitement about seeing Bumrah bowl with his usual speed, consistently hitting over 140 km/h. Gavaskar is optimistic that with a few more matches, Bumrah will regain complete confidence and might even ramp up his bowling speed to hit 150 km/h as he gets comfortable again.
