Virat Kohli's remarkable evolution in T20 cricket has earned high praise from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar, who believes the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star has now “mastered the art of T20 batting.” Following Kohli’s match-winning performance in the IPL 2026 final, Manjrekar highlighted how the veteran batter has successfully adapted his game to the modern demands of the shortest format.
Kohli played a pivotal role in RCB’s successful title defense, scoring an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls in the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans. His composed yet aggressive knock guided RCB to a five-wicket victory and their second consecutive IPL championship.
Speaking about Kohli’s transformation, Manjrekar pointed out that the 37-year-old has found the perfect balance between aggression and control. According to the former cricketer, Kohli now understands the importance of maintaining a strike rate between 150 and 160 while maximizing the powerplay overs.
Manjrekar also emphasized that unlike many T20 batters who rely heavily on six-hitting, Kohli continues to dominate through timing, placement, and boundary-scoring ability. He noted that Kohli often operates in “third and fourth gear” while maintaining complete control over his innings, making him one of the most effective batters in contemporary T20 cricket.
The IPL 2026 season showcased Kohli’s continued excellence. The RCB stalwart finished as the franchise’s leading run-scorer, amassing 675 runs in 16 matches at an average above 56 and a strike rate exceeding 165. His consistency at the top of the order played a major role in RCB’s title-winning campaign.
Kohli himself recently acknowledged that he has adapted his mindset to meet the evolving demands of T20 cricket, focusing on match situations rather than merely chasing big six-hitting numbers.
