Virat Kohli faces scrutiny ahead of India’s Champions Trophy match against Pakistan on February 23. Recently, his performance has faltered, underscored by a mere 22 runs against Bangladesh, where he fell to wrist spinner Rishad Hossain. Former teammate Robin Uthappa believes Kohli’s struggles may stem from a mental block, as he seems focused on merely middling the ball instead of scoring runs. Uthappa suggested a technical adjustment in Kohli’s batting stance and remains optimistic that with time and the right mindset, Kohli will regain his form and confidence, allowing him to express himself on the field.
Virat Kohli will be under scrutiny when India faces Pakistan in their second match of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday, February 23. Kohli has had a turbulent performance recently in both red and white ball cricket, managing only a 38-ball 22 in India’s opening game against Bangladesh. He was dismissed by wrist spinner Rishad Hossain, marking his fifth dismissal to this type of bowling in his last six matches. Robin Uthappa, Kohli’s former teammate in India and with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), suggested that Kohli might be overthinking his game.
“Virat, being the extraordinary batter he is, needs to confront what’s going on in his mind, as it seems to be a mental battle for him,” Uthappa remarked on Star Sports.
“From an external perspective, it appears he’s more focused on timing rather than on scoring runs, which is typically when he’s at his best,” Uthappa added.
During the game against Bangladesh, Kohli took 10 balls to score his first run, hitting only a single boundary before falling to Rishad Hossain.
“He seems to be caught in a dilemma between trying to time the ball perfectly and actually scoring runs,” Uthappa elaborated.
Uthappa also pointed out a technical adjustment that Kohli should consider.
“I believe he needs to make a minor technical change. Historically, his bat comes from the second or third slip area when he scored most of his runs. Currently, it seems to come from around the wicketkeeper or first slip,” Uthappa stated.
He explained that this adjustment in Kohli’s approach could prevent him from showing the full face of the bat, making the cover drive a risky shot for him.
Nevertheless, Uthappa reassured fans of Indian cricket that it’s just a matter of time before Kohli finds his rhythm again.
“I think it’s only a matter of time; once he clears his mind and plays freely, the runs will start to come,” Uthappa mentioned.
“He’s in search of his touch and form, which is a completely natural phase when runs are hard to come by, and I believe it won’t be long before he comes out of it,” Uthappa concluded.
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