Champions Trophy 2025: Under pressure Virat Kohli rediscovers his mojo
Introduction
The stage was set for Virat Kohli to reclaim his legendary status in the game of cricket. As the 36-year-old batter entered the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, he was under immense pressure to rediscover his mojo. A lean 2024 had raised questions about his ability to dominate the game, and his struggles against spinners had become a major concern. But, as the tournament progressed, Kohli proved his doubters wrong, etching his name in the record books and leading India to a crucial win against Pakistan.
The Road to Redemption
Coming into the tournament, Kohli’s form was a topic of discussion. In Test cricket, his traditional happy hunting ground, he had been under pressure, with bowlers exploiting his weakness outside off-stump. Similarly, in white-ball cricket, he had looked vulnerable against spinners, often struggling to rotate the strike and find boundaries. His dismissal to spinners in ODIs had become a regular occurrence, with his sixth straight wicket falling to a spinner in the opening game against Bangladesh. It seemed like the clock was ticking on his ODI career, and redemption was needed urgently.
A New Strategy
The former Indian skipper, however, refused to give up. He understood that he needed to make amends, and fast. He put in the hard yards, both in the nets and during solo sessions. He brought in new strategies to counter the spin attacks, choosing to rotate the strike and wear down the bowlers. The strategy paid off, as he notched up a century in the crucial match against Pakistan, becoming the fastest to 14,000 ODI runs, a testament to his incredible consistency.
Speaking Out
After the match, Kohli spoke candidly about his approach. "To be honest, it feels good to be able to bat in that manner in an important game to seal qualification and contribute (after) we lost Rohit early," he said. "I had to put in the understanding of what we learnt in the last game. My job was to control the middle overs against the spinners without taking too many risks. It allowed me to play my usual ODI game," he added.
Conclusion
As the tournament nears its climax, Kohli’s century has given him a much-needed boost in confidence. His peers and fans will be eager to see if he can maintain his momentum and lead India to its first ICC title in ODIs since the 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. As he looks to put the past behind him and focus on the future, Kohli’s rediscovary of his mojo has sent a strong message: the maestro is back, and he’s here to stay.
Meta Description: Virat Kohli’s century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has sent a strong message about his resurgence as a top-order batter, as he becomes the fastest to 14,000 ODI runs, a testament to his incredible consistency and adaptability.
Keywords: Champions Trophy 2025, Virat Kohli, ODI cricket, cricket news, sports news, Indian cricket team, cricket team India, ICC Champions Trophy.
