Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif feels that Virat Kohli has evolved into a more balanced and thoughtful player over the years. Virat Kohli, who was once known for his fiery attitude, now looks calm and composed, which is reflected in his better decisions on and off the field.
Kaif believes that this change has come from maturity and a deeper understanding of the game that has developed over time. The former Indian batsman, who has known Kohli since his early days, said marriage and fatherhood have brought stability to the former captain’s life.
Mohammad Kaif praised Virat Kohli for becoming a calm and sensible cricketer
Kohli’s approach towards the game has changed, he noted, adding that earlier he had all the energy and aggression, but now he incorporates that intensity into his performances with better control. His emotions are still strong, but he knows how to use them to his advantage.
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Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel, “Virat Kohli has calmed down a bit now. There is a lot of difference between how he was before marriage and how he is after marriage.”
Kaif recalled an interesting moment from the IPL match when the right-arm fast bowler calmly discussed his plan against fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Kohli told him that attacking early to put pressure on the Proteas bowler was a strategic move, which showed how much his playing sense had improved. Kaif said Kohli’s “calmness has improved his understanding of cricket.”
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The commentator further added, “He told me that if I had not attacked Rabada early, he would not have let me play. So, I wanted to hit him on the very first ball.”
The former India player also praised Kohli’s humility and said that despite his achievements, there has been no change in him as a person. He still treats his former teammates with the same warmth and respect as years ago. Kaif said that Kohli’s hunger to improve is what makes him different and even after making so many records, he still works hard to improve his game and looks for ways to improve.
Kaif said, “He still treats me the same way. If he used to call you brother earlier, he will call you brother now too. When you meet him off the field, he will remember that he has played with you and will give you the same respect. There has been no change there.”
Kohli’s recent performance shows that his mentality remains as strong as before. After consecutive ducks against Australia, the right-handed batsman bounced back with a brilliant unbeaten 74 in the final ODI and proved his ability to deal with setbacks calmly.
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Mohammad Kaif reveals why Virat Kohli hasn’t signed RCB deal yet
Speaking about Kohli’s future with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL, Kaif mentioned that the former captain is taking a wait-and-see approach due to a possible ownership change. Kohli is yet to sign a new commercial deal, and the former Indian batsman feels that the RCB icon might want to see how things go with the new owner.
He signed off by saying, “There are rumors that RCB may not be named next season. Virat Kohli did not sign a commercial contract as he was waiting to see what direction the new owners would take.”