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Virat Kohli, a luminary in Indian cricket, stands as a colossus, earning widespread acclaim for his extraordinary skills, astute leadership, and unyielding determination. Notably, his commitment extends beyond national duties to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where Kohli has carved an unparalleled legacy as the sole player to represent the same franchise throughout the illustrious 16-year history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Insights from legends lounge: T20 dominance and on-field aura
As the cricketing world eagerly anticipates the IPL 2024, slated to commence on March 22, the recent episode of Jio Cinema’s ‘Legends Lounge’ provided a platform for cricketing stalwarts like Anil Kumble, Mike Hesson, Eoin Morgan and Robin Uthappa to reflect on Virat Kohli’s dominance in the T20 format. The experts delved into Kohli’s on-field aura, the evolution of his cricketing prowess, and the defining quality that shaped his legacy.
Anil Kumble identifies the one specific attribute of Virat Kohli
When questioned about the particular characteristic of Kohli that most impresses him and will define his legacy, Kumble succinctly highlighted the term ‘consistency.’ This attribute has been a hallmark of Kohli’s illustrious career, underlining his ability to perform at an elite level across various formats and conditions.
“I would say consistency. I saw him in RCB when I was a part of RCB, that’s where he started his T20 career, after being a U-19 World Cup winner. From there, the transformation in his fitness, the way he wanted to play his cricket, and the performances he’s put in white-ball cricket. In test cricket, we know his greatness. In T20 cricket for India, his consistency over a period of time has been immense. The kind of aggression and attitude he brings on the field is something that helps the team get a kind of intensity,” Kumble said.
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Mike Hesson’s glimpse: Kohli beyond the boundary ropes
Hesson, who had the privilege of coaching Kohli during his tenure with RCB, provided a glimpse into a calmer and composed Kohli beyond the boundary ropes.
“There are two sides. You talked about the side on the field, but he’s very calm off the field. When youngsters come into the team or overseas players, he’d spend time getting to know them. This was after he was a captain as well. It’s not a captain thing, it’s a genuine want to share and communicate about things other than cricket,” Hesson said.
Anticipation for IPL 2024: Kohli’s grand comeback
During IPL 2023, Kohli’s outstanding performance for RCB saw him amass 639 runs, securing the fourth spot among the season’s highest run-scorers. While Kohli has been absent from competitive cricket since the T20I series against Afghanistan, missing the Test series against England due to personal reasons, he is anticipated to make a comeback in the upcoming IPL 2024, slated to commence later this month. RCB are set to embark on their IPL 2024 journey on March 22 with an away match against the reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
