Virat Kohli’s form had been becoming a concern for India of late. The Indian skipper had registered three ducks last month and he recorded yet another one in the first T20I of the five-match series against England. Fans were concerned and a lot of pundits had been criticizing his performances of late.
However, Kohli announced his return to form once again on Monday as he played a match-winning knock of 73* to lead India to a seven-wicket win. The victory also helped India to level the series 1-1, with three more matches to go.
Former India batsman VVS Laxman was full of praise for Kohli following his return to form and said that it is Kohli’s habit of learning from his mistakes that makes him such a great player.
“It was another example today why Virat Kohli is such an important player for Indian cricket and why he is such a great player. He doesn’t repeat his mistakes, he learns from them,” said Laxman on Star Sports Network.
“We saw in the last match that he showed the hurry in the first few deliveries and because of that he got out off Adil Rashid’s bowling. But today he took his time and he knows what is his formula,” added Laxman.
“Generally whenever Virat Kohli performs consistently in the T20 format, he takes his time, gets set and after that his strike rate changes. He doesn’t depend on fours and sixes only, converts ones into twos because he gives absolute emphasis on fitness.”
“So, this is definitely a learning. Everyone should know what is their strength. Pollard and Chris Gayle’s strengths are to play the big shots. Virat Kohli’s strength is to hit fours and sixes with conventional cricketing shots and keeping the pressure on the bowlers,” Laxman concluded.
The second T20I in Ahmedabad also saw debutant Ishan Kishan smashing 56 in just 32 deliveries. Kishan took the attack on to the English bowlers as he struck five fours and four sixes during his knock. He was involved in a 94-run stand for the second wicket with Kohli, who struck five fours and three sixes during his innings. India will take on England in the third T20I in Ahmedabad once again on Tuesday.
