New Delhi, March 29 (NationPress) Dale Steyn, the former South African fast bowler, has praised the transformation of Virat Kohli as a batsman in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He emphasized that Kohli's remarkable improvement in six-hitting over the past two seasons has been a significant highlight.

During a match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli amazed spectators with an unbeaten 69, guiding RCB in their title defense by successfully chasing a target of 202 in just 15.4 overs. Kohli made his IPL 2026 debut after a ten-month hiatus from T20s, following impressive performances in three ODIs against New Zealand earlier in January, where he scored 93, 23, and 124.

“Many players at Virat Kohli's level typically seek minor adjustments in their game. However, Virat consistently strives for improvement each IPL season. His recent enhancement in six-hitting capability is noteworthy and has evolved over the last two years,” Steyn remarked during an interview on JioStar.

Statistics from CricViz illustrate Kohli's increased attacking approach in the powerplay during the IPL. In 2020, his attacking shot percentage in the initial six overs was 31.5%. This increased to 37.8% the next year, further rising to 45.5% in 2022.

The trend continued in 2023, with his attacking intent reaching 54.6%. By 2024, this figure jumped to 60.6%, and in 2025, it soared to 66.3%. RCB's top-order batsman, Devdutt Padikkal, credited Kohli's influence for enabling the team to complete the chase with 26 balls remaining.

“It’s great to kick off the new season with a victory, especially here in Bengaluru. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is dear to us, and we aimed to give back to our fans who supported our triumph last year,” Padikkal stated.

“When I came to bat, Virat bhai’s only guidance was to maintain the run rate and exert pressure on the bowlers. My role was to take calculated risks while he steadied the innings. His presence alleviated the pressure on me, allowing me to play freely.”

“We recognized that SRH's bowling attack isn’t particularly strong, so we were confident in our ability to chase down the target smoothly. Although we lost Phil Salt early, it was crucial to keep the pressure on to prevent SRH from recovering. We executed that well and secured the win,” he added.

Padikkal also highlighted the contributions of RCB head coach Andy Flower and batting coach Dinesh Karthik in refining his aggressive batting approach in T20s. “I owe my development and game improvement to our head coach Andy Flower and our batting coach Dinesh Karthik. They dedicated significant effort towards my growth,” he said.

“The process wasn’t straightforward as there were numerous aspects I needed to alter. It wasn’t solely technical; it involved considerable mental adjustments as well. I had to genuinely believe that I could excel in this aggressive style of cricket. Over the last five to six years, T20 cricket has transformed immensely.”

“When I debuted in the IPL in 2020, the game was vastly different from what it is today. Therefore, it was essential for me to have faith in my capabilities. I genuinely believe Andy and DK were instrumental in helping me achieve that,” he concluded.