Is Kohli losing his aggressive edge?

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Virat Kohli’s aggressive edge, once a hallmark of his batting and on-field persona, seems to have mellowed since mending relations with Gautam Gambhir. It could be a coincidence but it is happening and that could be a a bit of concern. While the tension between the two was once palpable, especially during IPL encounters, their newfound camaraderie under Gambhir’s coaching has softened their rivalry. There is no masala anymore as they quip about their colourful past.

If Kohli is seen spending more time laughing and exchanging tips with Gambhir, it may reflect an effort to foster team harmony. Some might say that this friendship has made Kohli lose his “aggressive best” — the fearless, intense attitude that fired him up during games. It’s possible that this lighter side of Kohli is being misinterpreted as a sign of him losing his competitive spirit. However, adapting and maturing over time isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if it helps improve team dynamics and offers Kohli a new perspective on the game.

The focus on playing spinners effectively could also be a sign of Kohli working on areas where he’s faced challenges recently, showing his willingness to evolve and collaborate for the greater good of the team. It seems that while Virat Kohli’s close circle may not acknowledge it, a technical issue has surfaced in his approach against spin bowling. Kohli’s natural instinct has always been to read spinners early, from the moment the ball is released.

However, his current problem appears to be a tendency to commit too early to his shot, especially when facing off-spinners, which causes him to go across the line of the ball instead of waiting for it to come closer. This early commitment is risky because it leaves him vulnerable to misjudging the length and trajectory, particularly on slower pitches where spinners can deceive with flight or turn. The key adjustment here would be for Kohli to delay his reaction just a bit, allowing the ball to come to him rather than premeditating his shot.

Once he regains that patience and timing against spin, his technique will likely fall back into place, and he won’t need to worry as much about this newfound weakness. With his exceptional work ethic and focus on improving specific aspects of his game, Kohli is fully capable of making this adjustment, which could help him regain his dominance against spin.

Technical flaws are a normal part of any cricketer’s journey, and even a player of Kohli’s stature isn’t immune to occasional slumps. Kohli’s recent challenges against spinners are natural, especially as the game evolves and bowlers adapt to exploit even the smallest weaknesses. But his status as one of the modern greats is precisely because of his ability to identify and correct these flaws.

Historically, he’s shown an incredible ability to bounce back stronger after rough patches, whether it’s a technical issue or a run of poor form. Kohli’s determination and his hunger to score big will likely drive him to overcome this slump against spinners, and when he does, we can expect to see him back to his best across all formats. As you mentioned, it’s not a question of “if” but “when” he gets that big score again.