Cricket-Kohli serves timely reminder of T20 prowess with fiery IPL knock

(Reuters) – Virat Kohli demonstrated that he is more than just a promotional figure for T20 cricket by delivering a stellar performance in the Indian Premier League. The former Indian captain’s blistering knock served as a warning to bowlers ahead of the upcoming World Cup in the U.S. and West Indies later this year.

Despite only playing two T20 internationals since November 2022, Kohli is expected to secure a spot in the squad for the June tournament. His impactful innings of 77 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Monday’s IPL match reminded selectors of his remarkable skills.

This game marked only his second appearance for Bengaluru after a two-month hiatus from cricket, yet the 35-year-old displayed form as if he had been playing continuously, aiding his team in successfully chasing down the target of 177 set by Punjab Kings.

“I know that my name has been associated with promoting the game in various parts of the world, especially in T20 cricket,” a grinning Kohli mentioned, in response to comments made by former England captain Kevin Pietersen during a previous match. “But, I still possess the skills, I suppose.”

Kohli put to rest any doubts regarding his ability to adapt his game with an extremely aggressive approach against Punjab. He confidently stepped out and struck pace bowlers over cover, deviating from his usual strokes that swiftly race off the turf.

“They are aware that I excel in playing the cover drive, so they are not going to allow me to hit the gaps. Especially with players like KG (Kagiso Rabada) and Arshdeep (Singh) in the mix, who have their unique strengths,” he explained. “When they are hitting a length, you need to generate momentum in the ball.”

“You need to formulate a game plan here and there and strive to enhance your game continuously,” Kohli added.

Kohli’s 51st IPL half-century set the groundwork before Dinesh Karthik’s quickfire 28 runs off 10 balls sealed the victory for Bengaluru.

“I was disappointed that I couldn’t see the game through to the end,” Kohli expressed. “But, it’s not a bad start considering that I played after two months and delved back into the tournament.”

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)