2 minutes of readingUpdated: Mar 21, 2026 12:06 pm IST
Since retiring from the red-ball format, Virat Kohli’s approach towards ODIs has changed. The batsman who came to his innings by rotating the strike and then accelerated started playing his shots early. But can the same be seen with Royal Challengers Bengaluru? Where his strike rate has been questioned at times. Former RCB player Mohammad Kaif feels the lack of Test cricket will keep his mind fresh and the veteran batsman will respond to his critics now.
“It won’t make a difference. In fact, it will benefit him as he is coming from a break with a fresh mind. Making that change is normal for him as he has been doing it for years, even for India. I would say it would be difficult if it was another batsman. Look at the IPL before he retired from the T20I, he scored there. Then he won MOM in the final. There are very few players who can adjust that change.
“This period, especially the Test retirement, has not been easy for him. He is even playing aggressively in the white ball now, the strike rate is there. He has improved his game and now he has decided that until he plays, he will let his critics know that he is Virat Kohli,” he said on his YouTube channel.
Kaif also said that Kohli will not tolerate any complacency from his team members. “Virat Kohli will not accept any complacency. He will not be taken lightly after winning the title. Kohli always starts from scratch. I am not talking about Patidar here. If Kohli sees that someone is not putting in that effort or there is no energy, he will be the first to call people and tell them that we are here to win. Until you have a player like him, no one can take the nets or the matches lightly. Now he will take away nothing less than a trophy. In terms of commitment, he will to keep everyone alert. He will arrive with a lot of hunger and the will to make winning a habit now,” he said.
