Virat Kohli shockingly admits 'Cover Drive' as his weakness after 100 vs Pakistan

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli revealed his approach to reaching his 51st ODI century during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Pakistan. Virat Kohli stated that the cover drive has been one of his weaknesses over the years but added that he trusted his instincts and backed his strokes in the match.

Virat Kohli had been under scrutiny due to poor form but delivered when it mattered most. The 36-year-old anchored the chase with an unbeaten 100 runs off 111 balls. He smashed his fourth ODI century against Pakistan in 17 matches while chasing a target of 242 runs in Dubai on Sunday, February 23.

It Has Been One of My Weaknesses Over the Years - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli said that the cover drive has troubled him and brought him success over the years. He stated that he gained confidence after playing a few cover drives on the rise early in his innings. The batter revealed that he played shots when he was in control.

“It’s a catch-22. It has been one of my weaknesses over the years but I have also scored a lot of runs on that shot. I think today was just about backing my shots and the first couple of boundaries I got were cover drives on the rise. So, I had to let it go, take a bit of risk, and follow through with my shots. And when I hit these kinds of shots then I feel in control,” Kohli said in a video posted by the BCCI.

It Was a Good Innings for Me Personally - Virat Kohli

Kohli described his innings as personally satisfying. He was happy to be able to play his natural game and contribute to an important victory. The 36-year-old batter highlighted that securing a win was crucial for the team’s qualification.

“It was a good innings for me personally, and it was great teamwork. I was able to bat the way I wanted to bat. And to contribute to a winning cause in an important game obviously feels great. It was imperative that we get stuck in and win to be able to qualify,” he added.

Always Thought of Batting at 3 as Minimizing Risk - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli said his focus has always been on adapting to the game's demands and doing whatever is necessary to secure a win. Kohli, known as the ‘Chasemaster,’ executed this role flawlessly, playing a key part in his team’s impressive win.

“One thing that I always thought of batting at 3 is minimizing risk and making sure that I put my team in a winning position. If you have the chance to finish off a game in a chase, that’s much better. And I prefer such a situation. My role over the years has remained the same – Whatever the demand of the game, I put my head down and do that,” he concluded.

During his innings, the Delhi-born cricketer completed 14,000 ODI runs. He achieved the record faster than Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. He helped India secure their second consecutive win in the 2025 Champions Trophy, following their victory over Bangladesh in the opening match.

Kohli will next be seen in action on Sunday, March 2, when India faces New Zealand in their final league game of the tournament. The Men in Blue are at the top of the Group A table with four points from two matches.

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