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Virat Kohli, the former unchallenged king of world cricket, endured one of the most trying phases of his life between 2020 and 2022. A year-long batting collapse, scrutiny of his strike rate, and even his own place in the Indian team wondered if he had a cricketing future. And yet, in defiance of probability, Kohli mounted an extraordinary comeback in 2023, scoring centuries in all three forms and silencing his critics.
Having ruled world cricket for almost a decade, Kohli's form fell dramatically after the year 2020. Between January of 2020 and August of 2022, Kohli averaged just 28.63 in Tests and 37.25 in ODIs - far short of his high standards. His November 2019 hundred in an international match would prove to have been the last, and Kohli's difficulties with moving and spinning balls were visible.
Seniors pointed out some of the factors that might have been the reasons for his downfall such as Mental fatigue, years of playing cricket, some of the technical flaws and leadership pressure as being Indian National Cricket team's captain.
Whereas Kohli's comeback happened because of his own determination, hard work and talent, there were certain individuals who also played their part:
Tendulkar, in an interview, advised Kohli to "go back to basics" and "play straight" without trying to force the shots. Kohli's style, especially against the swingers, was sharpened with guidance from Tendulkar.
His former RCB teammate and friend, AB de Villiers, revealed in his YouTube channel that he kept assuring Kohli when he was experiencing his dry spell. "I would tell him, 'Listen, you are still the best, take it easy and enjoy the game," revealed de Villiers. This inspirational urging proved the impetus for Kohli's renewed confidence.
His long-time mentor, Rajkumar Sharma, stood by him during his lean phase. During an interview with Sportskeeda, Sharma identified that Kohli needed to simplify his trigger actions as well as reduce backlift in an effort to develop control.
Kohli commonly attributed staying down-to-earth to wife, Anushka Sharma. During an interview with Star Sports, he spoke about how she's helped him to switch off from outside voices and stay focussed towards self-belief.
Many people stepped up for helping Virat but these are the four main figures who were closest and helped him a lot in regaining his status, focus and enthusiasm for cricket. Finally, he did it and planted a lot of centuries in 2023 proving that he is still there.
Despite all the outside help, Kohli's personal conviction and unwavering work ethic were the greatest factors leading to his comeback. According to himself, "I never stopped believing about my skills." Along with the right mix of technical adjustments, mental strength, and input from mentors, Virat Kohli not only salvaged his career but also earned himself a place among the legends of modern-day cricket.
