Kolkata: With all the talk about power hitting, sixes, and strike rates, how about we bring in some clarity and balance? Virat Kohli does just that, and he does it with such ease and efficiency.

So far, he’s finished unbeaten in two out of three fifties, both in comfortable chase victories that made the matches feel one-sided. Kohli has never looked more relaxed in this format. There are several reasons behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s smooth sailing in this IPL, and one key factor is Kohli’s laid-back approach.

Part of this ease comes from his retirement from T20Is, which means he’s not feeling the pressure to set a fast pace for India. But he hasn’t completely lost that aggressive edge. Just look at his fifty off 29 balls against the Mumbai Indians, where he hit three boundaries in his first nine balls. He sent Jasprit Bumrah over midwicket for a six and schooled Will Jacks, finishing with a strike rate of 159. While it may not be groundbreaking given the current trend of boundary hitting, it’s still very much in line with Kohli’s style.

Another factor is Phil Salt. By taking charge during the Powerplays, Salt has allowed Kohli to revert to his anchoring role, which has been crucial in helping RCB secure their fourth away win.

Here’s a look at how Salt and Kohli have performed so far. At Eden Gardens, Salt had a strike rate of 180 while Kohli was at 163, remaining not out in a solid victory over KKR. In Chennai, Salt was on fire with a strike rate of 200, but Kohli lagged at 103, yet RCB still managed to score 196. Against DC, Salt smashed 37 runs off 17 balls, while Kohli contributed 22 off 14. Then in Jaipur, Salt hit 65 off 33 before Kohli took charge, finishing the chase with 62 off 45. Interestingly, during Jofra Archer's first two overs, Kohli only faced two deliveries. The only time this changed was at Wankhede, where Salt fell for just 4 runs, prompting Kohli to step up and score a fifty.

These stats highlight how Kohli serves as a reliable anchor for RCB’s innings, even as other players score at a faster pace. This dynamic not only gives the team more freedom in their batting but also allows Kohli to play his game. He aims to capitalize on good starts when batting first and to finish strong when chasing.

This marks a bit of a shift from 2024, when he opened the batting with a strike rate of 154.70, but 143.35 is still impressive. There’s definitely room for improvement. This is what Dinesh Karthik, RCB’s mentor and batting coach, had to say about Kohli at the start of the IPL.

Karthik mentioned, "I think he's currently batting at his best. Just a moment ago, when I spoke to him, he was eager to work on another shot. This shows his determination and desire to keep improving and pushing his limits. He’s definitely a standout player. Right now, I see him batting with a level of confidence and skill that’s unmatched in the IPL."

You can only guess how much captaincy has affected Kohli and whether moving from the No. 3 spot to opening has eased that burden. However, his clarity and understanding of the game have remained constant. He now boasts 66 scores of fifty or more in the IPL, tying with David Warner for the most, and has reached his 100th T20 half-century. Since fifties are crucial for winning in T20 matches, this highlights how connected Kohli is to the game.

Read Also: IPL’s Impact Player Rule: Revolutionizing Cricket Strategy in 2025

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