A look at what the master batter has changed since his return from Australia...
BACK TO BANGAR
After Virat Kohli's travails in Australia, he went back to a trusted aide - former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar. Bangar's time with the Indian team from 2014 to 2019 coincided with Kohli's peak, a period in which he scored 19 of his 30 Test hundreds.
In Australia, Kohli managed to score only 190 runs at 23.75 from the 5 Tests, getting out in the same fashion poking outside off-stump.
Visuals showed Bangar giving throwdowns to Kohli from about 16-17 yards, pitching the ball on a cement slab. As Kohli was scoring his 51st ODI ton to power India to victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, Bangar, during his commentary stint, threw more light on what transpired at the training facility in Mumbai...
INCREASED BACK FOOT PLAY
During his 111-ball 100 against Pakistan, it was evident Kohli was playing more on the back foot to back-of-a-length deliveries. Kohli's footwork saw significant improvement against both pacers and spinners, especially his back foot play. Playing off the back foot allowed Kohli to read spinners better and adjust shots accordingly. Once he gained confidence, he started coming forward more often, effectively mixing his approach.
"He (Kohli) waited for the ball to come to him. He really wasn't on the front foot all the time. He was willing to cover the infield as well. Against spin, what was good to see in the first half of his innings was that he was playing a lot off the back foot. Then once he got that confidence, he started coming forward. So, starting off the back foot and then gradually going on to the front foot was the plan.-Sanjay Bangar"
ALTERED BAT POSITIONING
In Australia, Kohli's bat was coming down from closer to the wicketkeeper or first slip. Bangar and Kohli worked on ensuring that his bat came down from the second or third slip region.
"When Kohli was in form, his bat used to come from the second or third slip area, allowing him to play more controlled shots. He is a guy who leaves no stone unturned as far as preparation is concerned. He knew that he had to step up (after the Australia tour). He brought that intensity to his game, and one could see it in his body language.-Sanjay Bangar"
ADJUSTMENT IN STANCE
Kohli also slightly opened his stance, allowing for better judgment against pace and spin. This adjustment facilitated more fluid shot execution, particularly through the offside. Additionally, a marginally lower back lift helped in reducing excessive back-and-across movement, leading to more stability and control over his shots.
"What he did well was to watch the ball till the end, till it made contact with his bat. That's something we discussed - to watch the ball like a hawk and give more than 100% to each delivery. He is hungry for runs and going by the innings he played (against Pakistan), he can easily play for another 3-4 years in international cricket.-Sanjay Bangar"
