CLOSING IN

 

 

 

NOT so long ago, there was a barrage of questions about the future of Virat Kohli in national colours. He had entered a lean patch, struggling to break shackles. A string of low scores coupled with a few captaincy setbacks kept playing on the premier batsman’s mind. All those look a thing of distant past now. Virat Kohli, the Chase Master is back in his groove. He is again hunting down targets, thrashing top bowlers and scoring runs by tons. The King is back in the jungle and India can really hope for a fresh round of huge celebrations in a few weeks for now when the World Cup final will take place. Kohli’s ominous form in the World Cup is a danger signal for the opposition. He has just knocked down his 48th One-Day International century. The innings against Bangladesh was a stamp of his return to the perch which he started ascending just before the Asia Cup. After ending a long drought of centuries, Kohli is looking hungry for more. And that bodes really well for the Men in Blue who are seeking to end their own ICC trophy drought that has stretched to a decade now. In the process, Kohli is also on the threshold of another gigantic record -- of surpassing his idol Sachin Tendulkar in number of ODI centuries.

 

The Delhi dasher now needs only one century to go past Tendulkar’s phenomenal collection of 49 One-Day international tons. It will be a superlative milestone for the man who has been equally effective in all formats of the game for his entire career. What makes Kohli’s second coming special is his pursuit for excellence without caring for other things. He is 34 yet the former captain is still a live-wire in the field. The desire to excel in whatever role is assigned to him for the sake of the team makes him a resident of a rare league. Kohli had had his time as a captain and also a good record to boast of. The circumstances under which he had to relinquish the job did cause some heartburn which ultimately affected his batting. But the strong will Kohli has showed to return to form and take his coveted place of a trouble-shooter is something that deserves unabashed appreciation.

 

Since the rediscovery of his mojo, Kohli has provided glimpses of a changed approach where he shifts gears at will. Though a fan of playing shots along the grass, he has used the aerial shots on crucial moments to shake the confidence of bowlers. The straight six off the backfoot against Pakistan’s Haris Rauf was the turning point in the epic encounter in Melbourne during the Twenty20 World Cup last year. His latest hundred against Bangladesh, too, bore the stamp of supreme class as he used the long handle to great effect to kill any competition. If Kohli continues in the same vein by mixing caution and aggression, then India can easily fancy their chances of lifting the World Cup twelve years after that famous night in Mumbai.