The conversation about Virat Kohli not performing well is everywhere. It can be said that he may have exhausted all his runs during the IPL 2023 season. What we are seeing now is an unusual display of batting from Virat Kohli. There is no doubt that he is one of the greatest batters of this decade. His consistency over the years has been remarkable, performing in all departments of the game regardless of the format.
At his best, a few reasons can explain why we are not seeing the ideal Virat Kohli we are accustomed to. The way he batted during the IPL was outstanding, and everyone knows his capabilities when he is at his best. He is a match-winner, without a doubt. However, it seems he is trying a bit too hard. In nine matches of the T20 World Cup 2024, Virat Kohli scored only 75 runs with a strike rate under 100.
When Team India came to these conditions, it should be noted that they mostly faced weaker teams in the initial stages of the tournament. Yet, Virat Kohli could not flourish with his bat. In India’s first match against Ireland, Kohli struggled. Perhaps he has not adapted to these conditions, or maybe he is trying too hard to score runs.
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The pressure of not having a good strike rate might have affected his batting. Another reason could be that before IPL 2024, Yashasvi Jaiswal was the first-choice opener for India. However, Kohli had a remarkable IPL 2024 as an opener, leading to a late change in the lineup. Openers have the responsibility to give the team strong starts, and India did well overall despite Kohli not performing well in this tournament.
Rohit Sharma, who had a mediocre IPL, found his form in the T20 World Cup, much to the relief of fans. The same goes for Hardik Pandya, who regained his rhythm and authority. However, the case of Virat Kohli is different, as his form slumped drastically.
Kohli has taken too much pressure on himself, trying to accelerate without caution because he lacks runs on his back. This has ultimately put him in a difficult position. Additionally, he appears to feel isolated, as he is accustomed to being at the center of the conversation and the game. Unfortunately, things have not gone as they could have for him in this World Cup.
