Former Indian opener and commentator Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Indian talismanic No.3 batter Virat Kohli, who has upped the ante in white-ball cricket over the last 12 months or so to meet modern-day demands.
In the first ODI of the ongoing five-game series against New Zealand, Kohli top-scored for India, amassing 74 runs off 51 balls with 13 fours and a six at a strike rate of 145.1. His aggressive knock helped India chase down the revised DLS target in 22.4 overs, with five wickets in hand, to take a 1-0 lead.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra termed Kohli an ‘intent machine’ for adapting to aggressive cricket, adding that Kohli looked completely different from other batters on a challenging wicket, propelling India to a win.
“The run machine has become an intent machine. The way he is playing, the way he is expressing himself, it is a challenge to capture it in words. Because everyone else was stumbling and he was flying. Yes, it was a small total, but things can get a little tricky because of rain. There was some help for fast bowlers, but India has won the game and has taken a 1-0 lead,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Further, Chopra delved into the statistical details of Kohli’s intent in ODIs. He revealed that Kohli used to hit a six every 94 balls until 2025. However, he reckoned that things drastically changed since then, as he is now hitting a six every 28th ball.
“Till 2025, his strike rate was 93.7. He used to hit a six every 94 balls. He used to run and run and make a lot of runs. But now look at this year. In 2026, the strike rate has become 120. He is hitting a six every 28th ball. From 94 to 28 balls, this is a huge change. This guy is absolutely stellar and he is rewinding the clock,” Chopra added.
