Credit: IPL
India batting maestro Virat Kohli has revealed how youngsters are struggling to play One-Day International (ODI) cricket at the time when T20 Internationals (T20I) are reigning the gentleman's sport. In ODI cricket, Kohli is the third-most successful batter with 14181 runs in 290 innings of 302 matches at an average of 57.88, with 51 hundreds and 74 fifties.This year, he might surpass former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-most successful batter in the format. The 36-year-old is only 54 runs away to shatter Sri Lanka legend’s batting feat.
Speaking to Mayanti Langer on RCB’s podcast, Kohli discussed youngsters’ struggle to adapt to ODI cricket. He also highlighted how flat tracks have given batters the tendency to hammer every delivery for a boundary. “I have seen that especially with the players coming up, they are still trying to figure out how to play this format. Because they have gotten so used to flat pitches and just wanting to hit the ball that when it is not there, the second option for them, and I understand that because their cricket is based on a lot of T20 cricket and a lot of ODI cricket which has to be attractive for people to watch,” said Kohli.
“Because people are also getting used to watching the slam bang, hit the ball, 6s, 4s all the time. That high-pressure games, they are only engaged in a format like Champions Trophy or World Cup. Outside of that, they do not have patience for it,” he further added.
Virat Kohli has been in red-hot form in IPL 2025
Kohli has done a magnificent job for RCB as an opener in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The veteran has hoarded 505 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 143.46, with seven fifties. In his last five innings, he struck four fifties from his bat.
With the tournament heading towards the conclusion of the round-robin stage, the star batter will be expected to be at his best in the upcoming games to help RCB qualify for the playoffs without any hassle. Challengers have three games left in this competition and they need a couple of wins to advance to the next round comfortably.
