Kohli has ‘let himself go and he’s having fun,’ says Moody
The Evolution of Virat Kohli
The landscape of T20 cricket is constantly shifting, and few players have adapted as masterfully as Virat Kohli. During the IPL 2026 season, Kohli showcased a version of himself that felt liberated, posting a striking strike rate of 165.85. While young talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have captured headlines, it is significant that among the top run-scorers of the season, only a handful eclipsed Kohli’s strike rate. As experts weigh in on this transformation, the consensus is clear: Kohli has ‘let himself go and he’s having fun,’ says Moody, and the results speak for themselves.
A Mindset Shift: From Business to Brilliance
Tom Moody, the global director of cricket for Lucknow Super Giants, believes the change is psychological. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Moody noted that in previous years, Kohli approached the game like a business—meticulously managed and structured. This year, however, that rigidity has been replaced by a sense of freedom. According to Moody, by letting go of the internal pressure, Kohli has allowed his natural class and brilliance to drive his scoring, leading to a surge in boundaries and overall impact.
This is a stark contrast to his iconic 2016 campaign, where he scored 973 runs at a strike rate of 152.03. Before IPL 2026, that season stood as an outlier in his career, the only time his strike rate climbed above 150. Now, he is operating at that intensity as a baseline.
The Impact of a Balanced RCB Line-up
While the internal shift in mindset is undeniable, external factors have played a massive role in Kohli’s freedom. Varun Aaron, bowling coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad, offers a compelling perspective: Kohli is playing with more joy because he finally has a middle order he can trust. For years, RCB relied heavily on a top-heavy batting order featuring giants like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. The current squad, bolstered by Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Phil Salt, and Venkatesh Iyer, has changed the dynamic entirely.
“Now he knows that even if he gets out, there are others,” Aaron explained. “Most of the big players, if they have batsmen behind them, they just know they can unleash their best on the bowling attack.” This trust allows Kohli to maintain high-intent cricket from the opening ball, knowing the team is not solely reliant on his presence at the crease.
Aggression as a New Instinct
The statistical breakdown of Kohli’s season confirms his aggressive intent. He has looked to hit boundaries against 47% of balls faced in the powerplay, a figure that remains consistent throughout his innings. Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu highlighted that Kohli has developed a completely new batting instinct. Unlike his past preference for batting deep into the innings, the current Kohli focuses on maximizing every delivery. “He is looking at the next delivery, and how we can maximize it, and that’s quite extraordinary for a guy who always wanted to bat long,” Rayudu observed.
Silencing the Critics
Throughout his career, Kohli has faced scrutiny regarding his strike rate and his ability to counter spin outside the powerplay. Moody believes that Kohli has successfully answered these critics by evolving alongside the game. With the introduction of the impact player rule and the general evolution of IPL tactics, Kohli has grown into a more versatile and dangerous threat. He is no longer seen as a player reserved for a specific role; he is now an engine of aggression. As Moody aptly put it, “He’s just grown and grown and grown. He’s now just playing it for fun. You could see the joy in what he does out there.”
As Kohli continues to refine his game, the cricketing world watches on. By blending his technical brilliance with a newfound, joyful intensity, he has set a new benchmark for what is possible in the modern T20 era.
