'The constant messaging was...' - Vikram Rathour takes credit for Virat Kohli's outstanding comeback from lean patch
Published - 15 Jul 2024, 06:48 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:15 AM
Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has opened up about Virat Kohli's lean patch with the bat that lasted more than two years.
One of the most prolific run-scorers in the history of international cricket, Virat Kohli endured a tough time with the bat from the end of 2019 to 2022. Luck had pretty much deserted the former India skipper during that phase as he failed to live up to the expectations. He was struggling with the bat in the IPL as well.
He had not managed a single international century in 2020 and 2021 before finally ending the drought with a century against Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup. The century had ended a remarkable 1021-day drought. In 2023, Virat Kohli ended his three-year century drought in Tests by scoring one against Australia.
The former India skipper finally regained his best form in 2023 and has not looked back since then. He was the highest run-scorer in last year's ODI World Cup, scoring a staggering 765 runs as India finished runners-up. Earlier this year, the batting stalwart impressed in the IPL too, and finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer.
There were no technical issues: Vikram Rathour
As Virat Kohli struggled to deliver with the bat during the lean patch, he was understandably facing severe criticism from several quarters. There were also widespread calls to drop him from the team. Recalling that phase, Vikram Rathour has said that there were no technical issues with Kohli's batting. He revealed that he constantly asked Kohli to believe in his methods and continue the hard work.
"There were no technical issues that we worked on specifically during this phase. The constant messaging to him was to keep working hard and believe in his methods. Eventually he came back stronger and an even better player," Vikram Rathour was quoted as saying by Deccan Herald.
Meanwhile, Kohli recently helped India win the T20 World Cup by starring with the bat in the final. Having managed to score only 75 runs in the entire competition before the final, the right-handed batter scored 76 runs in the title decider as India beat South Africa by 7 runs to win the T20 World Cup after 17 years.
