Virat Kohli is a man of few words. He likes to lead the team by example. On Monday, Kohli led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru chase against Punjab Kings. However, according to Kevin Pietersen, one of Kohli’s greatest contribution to Indian cricket has been to turn Indian cricketers into athletes.
Kohli guides RCB
Kohli played a blistering innings of 77 off 49 balls to help RCB get their first points of IPL 2024 on board. The former RCB captain has been a fitness freak and has always focused on maintaining his fitness standards. Pietersen said Kohli is responsible for Indian cricket’s turnaround.
Kohli responsible for Indian cricket’s turnaround: Pietersen
“One of the things that everyone will remember and will create the greatest memories as a player will be him finishing innings and being one the greatest finishers of all time. One of the things that he has done for Indian cricket is he has turned Indian cricketers into athletes, out and out athletes, and while doing so, he’s not just talked the talk. He has walked the walk, and you can see that,” Pietersen said while speaking to Star Sports on Cricket Live.
“When he is running between the wickets, his full commitment and his energy and his desire to be the best and he is the best. That starts before the field, that starts with diet, that starts with the energy he puts in the gym, that starts with the sacrifices that he has made to walk the walk because when you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. That’s what all the other players who have played under you are following you, watch you. The turnaround in Indian cricket is because of what he has done,” Pietersen added.
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‘Virat throws bowlers off-guard’
Pietersen also explained how Kohli throws bowlers off-guard by forcing them to bowl where he wants them to bowl.
“See, Virat Kohli’s greatness is how he throws the bowlers off his plans. Any batsman wouldn’t want any bowler to bowl that length to which he almost got caught in the first ball. The next ball he stepped out, he doesn’t let the bowler settle into his lengths. And that’s a mark of a great batsman. A great batsman will make you bowl to where they want you to bowl, they don’t let you bowl where you want to bowl. And Virat Kohli does just that and that’s why he’s so successful in international cricket and at the IPL,” Pietersen said.
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