What has changed in Virat Kohli cover drive technique since 2014?

When India went on a tour of Australia in 2024-25 to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, fans had huge expectations from Virat Kohli who has achieved success in Australia in the past. Before the recently concluded series, the former India captain had an impressive average of 54.08 in 13 matches. However, he scored only 190 runs in five matches at a poor average of 23.75 in the 2024-25 tour.

There was a pattern of Kohli’s dismissals during the series as he was found vulnerable against deliveries outside the off-stump. The right-handed batsman was being tempted to play the cover drive which has been a double-edged sword for him over the years. While there is nothing more alluring in the game of cricket than Kohli’s cover drive, it has also led to his downfall on several occasions during his illustrious career.

One has to go back to the England tour in 2014 to analyse Kohli’s struggles outside the off-stump. James Anderson and his fellow pacers made him work hard as they bowled balls in the channel outside off-stump that frequently went past the outside edge to the wicketkeeper or the fielders in the slip cordon. Kohli managed just 134 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.40.

Virat Kohli’s stance was across the crease and his head was outside the off stump. He was not judging the line of his off stump properly and was playing deliveries that he could have left.

However, on the next Test tour of England in 2018, the Delhi-born showed why he is considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time as he made subtle adjustments to his technique to end up as the highest run-scorer.

Virat Kohli scored 593 runs in 10 innings at an impressive average of 59.30. He scored three half-centuries during the series. The charismatic batsman opted for a wide and open stance and aligned his head with the line of the off-stump. He was more confident than ever with his footwork and his exquisite cover drives once again mesmerised the cricketing world.

In 2022, Kohli changed his stance once again. This time his head turned towards the leg-stump line and he also opened himself up a bit. He averaged just 26.50 in 11 innings in 2022.

Virat Kohli caught by Beau Webster On the recent Australia tour, Kohli changed his stance once again. He took a middle-stump guard and stood quite far away from his crease. This did not help him and his average in Australia dropped to 46.72.

On the England tour later this year, it will be interesting to see how the champion cricketer will solve his problems in Australia. His problems with balls outside the off-stump started way back in 2014.