After a nightmare in 2014, Virat Kohli turned to Sachin Tendulkar to rebuild his technique — and returned to England in 2018 with a point to prove
The summer of 2014 saw Virat Kohli arrive in England at the height of his early career. With centuries in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand already to his name, many believed England would be the last frontier he'd conquer. However, reality hit home - and fast.
Across five Tests, Kohli scored just 134 runs in 10 innings, averaging a paltry 13.4. He failed to top 40 in any innings. England's pace bowlers, led by James Anderson, exposed a flaw in his technique and exploited it ruthlessly. Kohli kept playing outside the off-stump, kept edging, and kept walking back. Dismissal followed dismissal behind the stumps. By the end of the series, his reputation had taken a significant hit.
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For a batter who thrived on rhythm and confidence, this tour was more than just a slump - it was a crisis. And Kohli knew he had to address it before it defined his Test career.
Back home, Kohli didn't waste time nursing wounds. He reached out to the one man who had experienced every high and low a batter could face — Sachin Tendulkar.
They met in Mumbai. There was no media coverage, no fuss, just two cricketers at different points in their careers. Tendulkar was retired but still sharp with insight, and Kohli was hurt but receptive to change.
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Tendulkar's advice was practical, not poetic. He asked Kohli to focus on his hip alignment and front-foot commitment. Instead of hanging back and reacting late, he needed to step into the ball early, cover the line, and eliminate indecision. They worked on stride length, weight transfer, and positioning against the moving ball.
It wasn't about reinventing Kohli's batting. It was about correcting a key technical flaw.
When India toured England in 2018, the excitement surrounding Kohli's performance was immense. Everyone remembered 2014. And so did he.
In the first Test at Edgbaston, England batted first and scored 287. India replied with 274, and Kohli made 149, a display of control and intent. He faced 225 balls, hit 22 boundaries, and dominated both pace and spin. It wasn't just a high score; it was a complete turnaround from what had gone wrong four years earlier.
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In the second innings, he added 51, again holding India's innings together as they chased 194. India fell short by 31 runs, but Kohli left the match with confidence, having shown he could rise to the same challenge — in the same country, against the same bowlers — and come out on top.
Kohli finished the five-match series with 593 runs, the highest by any batter
from either side. He averaged 59.3, scored two centuries and three fifties, and batted for over 20 hours throughout the series.
Credit: ESPN
What stood out was his clarity outside off stump. He left well. He committed forward. He picked his balls carefully. Anderson, who had dismissed him four times in 2014, managed to dismiss him just once in 2018.s
Kohli's turnaround in England was about more than just numbers. It demonstrated that elite players can evolve, and setbacks can inspire technical growth. When advice is received at the right moment from the right source, it has the power to transform a career.
