Virat Kohli: I will not change my technique for T20 cricket
Virat Kohli has often been criticized for not trying to play in a T20-specific way, but the modern-day great has acknowledged that it could affect a batter’s ability to handle the demands of Test cricket.
“I’ve never been a guy who tries so many fancy shots, because we have to play 12 months of the year,” Kohli said. “For me, it’s not about playing fancy shots and throwing my wicket away. We’ve got Test cricket after the IPL, so I’ve got to stay true to my technique and find ways to win games for my team.”
Kohli has a point. T20 cricket is very different from Test cricket, and trying to play the same way in both formats can be counterproductive. In T20 cricket, batters need to be able to score quickly and take risks, while in Test cricket, they need to build long innings and stay patient.
Kohli is one of the best Test batsmen in the world, and he can adapt his game to different formats. However, he also knows that there is a risk of injury if he always tries to play in a T20-specific way.
“I don’t really care about what anyone says on the outside, to be honest, because that’s their opinion,” Kohli said. “When you’re in that situation yourself, you know how to win games of cricket, and I’ve done that for a long period of time, so it’s not like when I play I don’t win games for my team. It’s playing the situation that I take pride in.”
Kohli is right to focus on winning games for his team, and he is right to stay true to his technique. He is one of the best batsmen in the world, and he should not change his game to please the critics.
