Former India spinner R Ashwin explained how Test retirement has unlocked Virat Kohli as T20 batter following RCB’s win over CSK. In the game at the Chinnaswamy stadium, Kohli gave initial momentum for his side by scoring 28 off 18 balls, which included a no-look six, something that the star batter has added to his arsenal after his T20I retirement in 2024.
Speaking to JioStar after RCB’s win over CSK, Ashwin said that while Kohli was playing Tests in 2024, Kohli used to be very still, and the movement of the feet was balanced. However, in 2026, Ashwin feels that Kohli has started to let go of his hands more and is aiming to get more shots in.
“Virat was still playing Test cricket in 2024, he was very still, the bat wouldn’t move much, but now, here in 2026, the bat is down initially and later he brings it up, which we call potential energy, or the constant movement of the bat, and he is getting into lovely positions, in 2024, his head was so still that even the movement of his feet was balanced, because he was still playing Test cricket then, in 2026, since he doesn’t play Test cricket anymore, he doesn’t have to control his hands as much and is letting them go, going for more shots,” he said.
WHY HAS KOHLI’S STRIKE-RATE GONE UP?
Irfan Pathan, who was also part of the discussion, said that Kohli is getting more momentum and power due to his backlift, which has improved his strike-rate immensely.
“Because of that backlift, he is getting that momentum, more power, and that is why the strike rate has gone up, when you are standing still in the prelude, before the bowler bowls, you don’t get the momentum that you want to create to go for big shots, but when you bring the bat down, then up again, you already have that momentum,” Pathan said.
Kohli will be next in action for RCB when they take on RR in Jaipur on April 10.
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