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Virat Kohli's bat-speed is the striking aspect of his batsmanship. The young man whips strokes with tremendous velocity of the willow and the ball often lands in the stands.
Kohli has also shown that he can be a stayer at the crease. He works the ball around for ones and twos, scores with deft placements. The youngster keeps the scoreboard ticking while retaining an element of solidity.
Indeed, the 22-year-old emerging middle-order batsman has displayed a clever cricketing brain that comprehends differing situations and reacts in an appropriate fashion.
Kohli's confident mindset is reflected in the manner he approaches every contest. His body language simmers with aggression; he is unruffled by demands of the occasion.
Crucial slot
The No. 4 slot is a crucial one. Kohli is the link between the top-order (the openers and No. 3) and the rest of the middle order. Much focus will be on Kohli in India's match against England at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Stiffer tests await Kohli in the competition but his unbeaten 100 in the World Cup opener at Dhaka marked the right beginning. He was light on his feet and met the ball with the sweet portion of his willow.
Ahead of India's match against Bangladesh, Kohli was under some pressure to retain his place in the eleven. Left-arm spin was the strongest component of the Bangadesh attack and there was a belief that a left-hander in Suresh Raina might suit India's needs better — a southpaw can strike the left-armers with the spin.
However, the Indian think-tank retained faith in Kohli and the impressive right-hander made the right moves on the field. He pierced the gaps, lofted over the infield or beyond the rope.
Kohli has a telling record in ODI cricket. Making his debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla in 2008, he has 1772 runs in 46 matches at 49.22 (strike rate 83.62). He has constructed five hundreds — he does possess innings building skills — and 12 half centuries.
An unbeaten 79 against the West Indies on a juicy Wanderers pitch with seam movement and bounce in the Champions Trophy 2009, was a breakthrough innings for Kohli.
Although both India and the West Indies were out of the race for the knock-out phase, there was plenty riding on Kohli when he went in to bat.
Capable handling
He handled the short-pitched stuff capably. Kohli was not overly bothered by the lift, got himself into the right positions for the horizontal bat shots.
Gradually, Kohli consolidated on his India place. His match-winning 107 against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens, 2009, was a wonderfully paced innings after India had lost big guns Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early.
During the innings, another aspect of Kohli's batsmanship stood out. The manner in which Kohli got his left foot forward and across for those sizzling cover-drives was exemplary. And he danced down to drive, clip or loft the spinners between mid-on and mid-wicket.
Kohli's ODI career continued to blossom. His spunky 118 versus Australia in Vizag (2010) was a game-changing effort. So was his 105 against New Zealand at Guwahati this season.
On the bouncy tracks of South Africa, Kohli's fighting qualities came to the fore during his 54 in Durban and 87 not out at Port Elizabeth. With Raina not figuring in the eleven, Kohli is the swiftest mover on the field for India. The Kohli spirit is as much visible in his fielding as in his ways with the willow.
Kohli has also shown that he can be a stayer at the crease. He works the ball around for ones and twos, scores with deft placements. The youngster keeps the scoreboard ticking while retaining an element of solidity.
Indeed, the 22-year-old emerging middle-order batsman has displayed a clever cricketing brain that comprehends differing situations and reacts in an appropriate fashion.
Kohli's confident mindset is reflected in the manner he approaches every contest. His body language simmers with aggression; he is unruffled by demands of the occasion.
Crucial slot
The No. 4 slot is a crucial one. Kohli is the link between the top-order (the openers and No. 3) and the rest of the middle order. Much focus will be on Kohli in India's match against England at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Stiffer tests await Kohli in the competition but his unbeaten 100 in the World Cup opener at Dhaka marked the right beginning. He was light on his feet and met the ball with the sweet portion of his willow.
Ahead of India's match against Bangladesh, Kohli was under some pressure to retain his place in the eleven. Left-arm spin was the strongest component of the Bangadesh attack and there was a belief that a left-hander in Suresh Raina might suit India's needs better — a southpaw can strike the left-armers with the spin.
However, the Indian think-tank retained faith in Kohli and the impressive right-hander made the right moves on the field. He pierced the gaps, lofted over the infield or beyond the rope.
Kohli has a telling record in ODI cricket. Making his debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla in 2008, he has 1772 runs in 46 matches at 49.22 (strike rate 83.62). He has constructed five hundreds — he does possess innings building skills — and 12 half centuries.
An unbeaten 79 against the West Indies on a juicy Wanderers pitch with seam movement and bounce in the Champions Trophy 2009, was a breakthrough innings for Kohli.
Although both India and the West Indies were out of the race for the knock-out phase, there was plenty riding on Kohli when he went in to bat.
Capable handling
He handled the short-pitched stuff capably. Kohli was not overly bothered by the lift, got himself into the right positions for the horizontal bat shots.
Gradually, Kohli consolidated on his India place. His match-winning 107 against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens, 2009, was a wonderfully paced innings after India had lost big guns Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early.
During the innings, another aspect of Kohli's batsmanship stood out. The manner in which Kohli got his left foot forward and across for those sizzling cover-drives was exemplary. And he danced down to drive, clip or loft the spinners between mid-on and mid-wicket.
Kohli's ODI career continued to blossom. His spunky 118 versus Australia in Vizag (2010) was a game-changing effort. So was his 105 against New Zealand at Guwahati this season.
On the bouncy tracks of South Africa, Kohli's fighting qualities came to the fore during his 54 in Durban and 87 not out at Port Elizabeth. With Raina not figuring in the eleven, Kohli is the swiftest mover on the field for India. The Kohli spirit is as much visible in his fielding as in his ways with the willow.