Virat Kohli Discusses IPL's Impact on His T20 Game
Kohli Reflects on IPL's Unique Challenges
New Delhi [India], April 9: Former Indian cricket captain and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) player Virat Kohli has shared insights on how the Indian Premier League (IPL) has shaped his approach to T20 cricket.
During a conversation on Jio Hotstar, Kohli pointed out the distinct mental and competitive hurdles presented by the IPL, noting its dynamic structure in contrast to shorter bilateral series.
He elaborated on how the ever-changing points table introduces various pressures, whether it's about maintaining a lead, recovering from a poor performance, or striving for a playoff position. This fluid environment compels players to adapt and refine their T20 skills, fostering continuous improvement.
“The IPL challenges you uniquely due to its tournament format. Unlike a brief bilateral series, it unfolds over several weeks, with your standing on the points table constantly fluctuating. This shifting scenario creates different pressures. When you're leading, there's the stress of holding onto that position. Conversely, if you're at the bottom, you need extra motivation to recover. And if you're in the middle, needing to win, for instance, three out of five matches, even one loss can heighten the pressure significantly. This dynamic aspect of the tournament mentally and competitively challenges you in ways that other formats do not. It has also driven me to consistently enhance my T20 skill set,” Kohli remarked on '18 Calling 18' on Jio Hotstar.
In the ongoing IPL 2025 season, Kohli has been in impressive form, amassing 164 runs across four matches, including two half-centuries. His team has enjoyed success, winning three out of four matches. Notably, they broke a 17-year winless streak in Chennai by defeating the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and secured their first victory against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in a decade.
Kohli is on the verge of matching Chris Gayle's record, having become only the fifth batsman to reach 13,000 runs in T20 cricket during the current IPL season. He also leads Indian batsmen with nine centuries, eight of which were scored in the IPL.
Previously, Kohli crossed the 10,000-run milestone in T20s during the 2021 IPL, achieving this in 299 innings, making him the third-fastest player to do so after Babar Azam and Gayle. Over 8,000 of Kohli's T20 runs have come from the IPL, where he continues to top the batting charts.
He recorded one of his quickest fifties in the IPL against MI at the Wankhede Stadium. Although RCB has yet to secure an IPL title, they arguably possess the strongest squad in IPL 2025. Kohli is set to play again on April 9, facing the Delhi Capitals in their next IPL match in Delhi.