February 21, 2025: Former India captain Anil Kumble and renowned cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar have shared their insights into Virat Kohli’s current struggles with form in limited-overs cricket. Kohli, who has been struggling with consistency since the 2023 World Cup, managed only 137 runs in six innings, with just one half-century. This ongoing lean patch continued in India’s opening match of the 2025 Champions Trophy against Bangladesh, where he was dismissed for 22 runs off 38 balls.
Kumble, known for his vast cricketing knowledge, emphasized that Kohli’s recent struggles could be attributed to him trying too hard. “Having been through a lean patch, especially in white-ball cricket, I feel he’s trying a bit too hard,” Kumble said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. He explained that players who have been successful for long periods often face heightened expectations, which can cause them to overthink their game. “When you have that kind of pressure and expectation, you suddenly start putting undue importance on it, and then try too hard to do well. When you do that, you’re not really relaxed,” Kumble explained, suggesting that Kohli’s best innings came when he played with a free mind, without worrying about the pressure.
Kohli’s recent dismissals, particularly to spin bowlers, have also drawn attention. Five out of his last six dismissals have been at the hands of legspinners, which Kumble believes is due to Kohli’s eagerness to score runs instead of focusing on rotating the strike efficiently. “He’s a good player of spin when he’s in form, but right now he’s trying too hard to score runs rather than just manoeuvre the ball and rotate the strike,” Kumble added.
Kohli’s approach against spin has been noticeable. In the Champions Trophy match, Kohli struggled to find the confidence to play his natural game, especially on slower pitches. Kumble noted that Kohli needed to “relax” and “not worry about anything else,” similar to how Rohit Sharma finds freedom due to his established form and India’s strong batting depth.
Sanjay Manjrekar also weighed in on Kohli’s situation, pointing out that Kohli’s struggles might be related to a loss of confidence and a shift in his once-explosive style of play. “He’s in a tight corner. His confidence is still down,” said Manjrekar, referencing Kohli’s inability to hit big shots like he once could. “We’ve seen on occasion him playing the big shot, but he can’t hit at will like a Shubman Gill does,” Manjrekar remarked, suggesting that Kohli’s lack of form is leading him to play more cautiously and without the flair that once defined his batting.
The former batter also noted that spinners now approach Kohli with more confidence. “The spinners know you’re not going to be hitting them for three sixes straight down the pitch or over midwicket. Rohit Sharma can still do it, KL Rahul can do it, Shubman Gill can do it,” Manjrekar explained, underscoring how Kohli’s struggles with spin may have given opposing bowlers the upper hand.
Kohli’s ability to rediscover his form and confidence is crucial for India’s success, particularly with challenging conditions ahead. “What he needed in this tournament are flat pitches like the ones in Pakistan. But if he finds a way out of this, that will tell you a lot more about the man and how he’s built,” Manjrekar concluded.
Both Kumble and Manjrekar’s comments highlight the pressure Kohli faces and how this mental burden might be influencing his batting, particularly against spin. The ongoing struggle represents a critical phase in the star batter’s career, with the cricket world eagerly awaiting his return to form.