Former India spinner R Ashwin explained how he unlocked Virat Kohli as a T20 batter after RCB’s win over CSK. In the game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli provided the initial impetus for his side scoring 28 off 18 balls, which included a zero sixsomething the star batsman added to his arsenal after his T20I retirement in 2024.
After that we talk to JioStar RCB win over CSKAshwin said that while Kohli was playing Tests in 2024, Kohli used to be very still and his footwork was balanced. However, in 2026, Ashwin feels that Kohli has started letting his hands go more and is trying to get more shots.
“Virat was still playing Test cricket in 2024, he was very still, the bat didn’t move much, but now, here in 2026, the bat is initially down and later he picks it up, which is what we call potential energy, or the constant movement of the bat, and he gets into beautiful positions, in 2024 his head was so still that even his leg movement played, since then he has been balanced, since then he has not played Test cricket, he doesn’t have to control his hands as much and he lets them go, he goes for the next shots,” he said.
WHY HAS KOHLI’S BET RATE INCREASED?
Irfan Pathan, who was also part of the discussion, said that Kohli is getting more momentum and power from his backlift, which has greatly improved his strike rate.
“Because of that backswing, it gets that momentum, more power, and that’s why the strike rate has increased, when you’re standing still in the forehand, in front of the bowlers, you don’t get the momentum you want to create to go for the big shots, but when you bring the bat down, then up again, you’ve got 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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Published on:
06 Apr 2026 17:33 IST
