Virat Kohli was unable to leave a significant impact in the opening match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh, scoring just 22 runs off 38 deliveries in Dubai. He entered the crease at a promising stage, with India positioned at 69/1, yet he found it challenging to establish a rhythm and ultimately edged a delivery from leg-spinner Rishad Hossain to backward point. This dismissal raised concerns regarding his current form, although the team managed to secure a six-wicket victory.

Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa opines that Kohli is grappling with a mental challenge rather than merely a technical issue. During a discussion on Star Sports, Uthappa noted that Kohli appears to be more concerned with making solid contact with the ball instead of concentrating on scoring runs, which is disrupting his natural batting flow.

“Virat, being the exceptional batsman that he is, needs to confront this situation because it seems he is somewhat trapped in his mind. From an external perspective, it appears he is focused on middling the ball rather than on accumulating runs,” Uthappa remarked.

“He is not preoccupied with making solid contact because the intent is fundamentally different. It seems he is attempting to escape the mindset of merely middling the ball and is caught in a dilemma between that and scoring runs. I believe it is only a matter of time; once he liberates his mind and plays freely, the runs will come naturally,” Uthappa added.

Throughout his innings, Kohli exhibited signs of hesitation, facing nine consecutive dot balls before finally scoring. The Bangladeshi bowlers, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mehidy Hasan Miraz maintained pressure on him until Rishad Hossain ultimately took his wicket. Notably, Kohli's sole boundary was achieved through an awkward pull shot, further underscoring his difficulties at the crease.

Uthappa suggests ‘technical adjustment’

Uthappa has highlighted not only Kohli's mental approach but also a technical issue that may be affecting his ability to execute strokes effectively.

"I believe there is a minor technical adjustment he needs to consider. Typically, his bat has been coming from the second or third slip position when he has scored the majority of his runs. Currently, however, it appears to be coming from the area of the wicketkeeper or first slip. Consequently, whenever he attempts to play the cover drive or any shot on the offside, he does not make contact with the full face of the bat.

"Instead, he is likely making contact with only about 50-60% of the bat, which renders the cover drive—his preferred shot—quite risky. This is an issue he must address, and I hope someone will discuss it with him to help him resolve this matter, as I believe this adjustment could significantly impact his performance. He seems to be searching for his rhythm and form, which is a common occurrence when runs are scarce, and I think it is only a matter of time before he finds it," he remarked.

Kohli's recent performance has raised concerns for India, as he has managed only one fifty in his last seven ODIs, accumulating a mere 137 runs during this stretch. His experience will be vital in the upcoming tournament, and India is eager for him to regain his form, particularly with the highly anticipated match against Pakistan approaching on Sunday.

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