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Rohit Sharma-led Team India registered a convincing six-wicket win over Bangladesh to open their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. While the Men in Blue seemed to dominate the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side from the start of it, they looked good with the bat as well, with KL Rahul and skipper Rohit Sharma registering 40-plus score, along with a well-made unbeaten century from Shubman Gill.
On the other hand, star Indian batter Virat Kohli looked a bit out of touch with the bat as he only managed to score 22 runs off 38 deliveries. Seeing Kohli play cautiously, former India batter Robin Uthappa also agreed that the 36-year-old was a little worried about middling the ball instead of scoring.
Kohli is in his head a little bit: Robin Uthappa
Speaking on to the broadcaster after the match, Robin Uthappa opined, “Virat, the great batter that he is, will have to address himself because, I think in a sense he's in his head a little bit. It feels like that from the outside. It feels like he's looking to middle the ball versus when he actually is batting well, he's looking to get runs.”
“He's not worried about middling the ball because the intent itself is different. And I think he's trying to break free from that space of trying to middle the ball versus scoring runs and he's finding himself caught in between is what I'm feeling from the outside. I think it's a matter of time, the minute he frees his head up and just goes out there and expresses himself, the runs will flow,” he added.
Furthermore, Uthappa also highlighted a technical flaw in Kohli’s technique which isn’t allowing him to meet the ball with the full face of the bat. “I do think there's a slight technical adjustment that he needs to make. Generally, his bat comes from the second slip or third slip. When he scored most of his runs, his bat generally comes from the second or third slip. Right now you see it's coming from right at the wicketkeeper or first slip,” Uthappa analysed.
“And from there, every time he looks to play the cover driver or on the offside, he's gonna not come with a full face of his bat. He's gonna come with maybe 50-60% of his bat, and that also will make that cover driver his favourite shot, a very dangerous shot to play. So, it's something that he will have to kind of figure out, and I hope someone speaks to him about it and helps him figure that piece out, because I think that one bit will make a huge difference. I think he's searching for his feel and form, and it's a very natural thing to happen when you're, when you are short of runs, and I think it's a matter of time,” he added.
It is to be seen if Virat Kohli makes necessary mandates to his technique and comes out good in the much-awaited clash against Pakistan, which is scheduled for Sunday, February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
