Virat Kohli’s form has come under scrutiny once again, especially after his shaky performance against Bangladesh in India’s opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Thursday, February 20. The veteran batter struggled to find fluency at the crease, managing just 22 runs off 38 balls before falling to young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain. His dismissal raised concerns among fans and experts alike, as Kohli appeared uncharacteristically uncertain against spin bowling.
With India chasing a modest 228-run target, Kohli’s inability to dominate the bowling attack has sparked debates about his approach. One of the voices weighing in on the matter is legendary spinner and former India head coach Anil Kumble. He believes Kohli is putting unnecessary pressure on himself, trying too hard to rediscover his best form instead of playing with his natural rhythm.
“I feel he is trying a bit too hard. When you have that kind of pressure and expectations, you start placing undue importance on every innings. That leads to forcing the game instead of playing freely,” Anil Kumble shared in a discussion on ESPNcricinfo. He emphasized that Kohli needs to trust his game and not let the weight of expectations affect his natural instincts.
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Kumble further analyzed Kohli’s struggles against spin, which have become a recurring issue. The Indian stalwart’s vulnerability to leg-spin was evident in the recent England series, where he fell twice to Adil Rashid in the two ODIs he played. Against Bangladesh, a momentary lapse in judgment saw him gift his wicket to Rishad Hossain, continuing his recent trend of struggles against slower bowlers.
“To start off against spin, especially on tricky surfaces, you need a lot of confidence. Right now, it seems like he is overthinking his game instead of backing his instincts. He has always been a great player of spin, but right now, he’s trying to force things,” Anil Kumble observed.
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The former Indian captain advised Kohli to focus on enjoying his batting rather than worrying about expectations. “He needs to relax a bit, not worry too much about the outcome, and just focus on playing his natural game. The runs will come,” Kumble concluded.
With the tournament still in its early stages, Kohli has ample opportunity to silence his critics and find his rhythm. Whether he can shake off the pressure and return to his dominant best remains to be seen.
