NEW DELHI: Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has offered fresh insights into the evolution of Virat Kohli, noting a significant increase in the star cricketer's composure and maturity in recent years. Kaif credits this shift to Kohli’s deepened understanding of the game and his personal development.
Kohli's evolved demeanor and strategy
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif observed a clear difference in Kohli's demeanor, linking it to major life changes.
He made a direct comparison: "Virat Kohli has become a bit calm now. There is a lot of difference between how he was before marriage and how he is after marriage."
This newfound calmness has, according to Kaif, sharpened Kohli’s on-field strategy and decision-making. Kaif recounted a specific conversation about an aggressive move Kohli made during an IPL game against a challenging bowler.
Kohli explained his reasoning for the proactive attack: "if I had not attacked Rabada early on, he would not have let me play. So I wanted to hit him off the first ball."
Kaif believes this strategic clarity confirms that Kohli's "understanding of cricket has improved with calmness."
Personal consistency and contract caution
Despite achieving global stardom after their time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Kaif confirmed that Kohli’s underlying personal attitude remains constant, especially toward those he’s played with.
The former batter highlighted Kohli’s persistent drive to maintain excellence even after playing for so many years.
Kaif stated: "He still wants to improve his game after having played for so many years."
He then shared a personal anecdote reflecting Kohli's unchanged respect.
Kaif added: "If he called you a brother before, he will call you a brother now as well. When you meet him off the field, he will remember that he has played with you and will give you that respect. There is no change there."
Finally, Kaif addressed the speculation regarding Kohli's reluctance to finalize his commercial contract with RCB, noting that it's related to uncertainty over the team's future ownership.
He explained the contractual delay: "There are rumors that the next season might not have the RCB name. Virat Kohli did not sign the commercial contract as he was waiting to see what direction the new owners would take."
