Virat Kohli (Image credit: X)
New Delhi: How much has T20 cricket changed over the years? Much has changed from the old formula of just seeing the ball and hitting it hard to a game driven by technique, innovation and adaptation. Bat swings, unconventional shots, innovations and underhand power have all become part of a modern batsman’s playbook.As batsmen continue to evolve, bowlers too are constantly finding new ways to survive in this high-scoring era. Wide yorkers, slower deliveries, knuckle balls and clever variations are now the main weapons in the bowler’s arsenal. Meanwhile the quality of fielding has touched another level – brilliant boundary catches, relay efforts and athletic stops that leave the fans in the stands stunned. So has T20 cricket become a purely youth game?Not really. While young sensations and young stars like Vibhu Suryavanshi, Priyansh Arya and Abhishek Sharma are firing on all cylinders, bowlers like Sakib Hussain, Prince Yadav, Parful Henge and Anshul Kamboj are also making a big impact with the ball.At the same time, veteran players – especially those in the 35-plus club – match the intensity and hunger of the younger generation.Virat KohliNow 35, he is still smashing bowlers around the park with the same intensity as players much younger than him. He is currently RCB’s highest run-scorer this season.Bhuvneshwar KumarAt 36, continues to shine with the ball and has been the top wicket-taker this season.Meanwhile, 35-year-old Krunal Pandya has been a game-changer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru on several occasions this season.RCB’s star batsman Kohli, speaking in a podcast with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said that he feels that T20 cricket has now become “a completely different game” and not just a different format.“Every ball is an intense event. Every ball feels like the momentum of the game can change. It’s almost like you’re playing a high-intensity Champions League football game where one bad pass or one slip, and the whole match is over. So it’s reaching that level, the talent is going through the roof. You see the way the youngsters are getting stronger, they’re hitting the ball, explosive cricket,” Kohli said.Kohli also gave examples of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Gram Smith. “There are different ways to achieve the same goals, and everyone has their own way of playing the game. We have had many examples in the past where people batted with different stances, they hit the ball in different areas. For example, Graeme Smith, we found it very difficult for him to hit the ball from the offside with a straight bat, but he was unstoppable through the onside. And if you look at it, he was a very successful Test player and a very successful Test captain. So you have to have that belief in your game, even if it’s different from others,” he said.“It’s not like an ABD Villiers, where everything is lined up perfectly. Not like a Sachin Tendulkar, where the bat just came down in a straight line. But people have found ways to succeed without those skills or that particular way of playing the game. It’s very similar for me, or actually for Bhuvi. Today’s cricket is undoubtedly evolving and changing. That’s the nature of the game. T20 cricket emerged as an evolution of the game. Today, it has almost become a different game, not just a different format. In fact, KL and I were talking the other day, and he said this to me: ‘It feels like a completely different game. It’s not even a different format,” Kohli said.
