Cricket’s Biggest Star Virat Kohli Under Pressure In This Season’s Indian Premier League

Even as he moves into the twilight of a legendary career, Virat Kohli remains cricket’s biggest star. He’s a little bit like LeBron James. While there are younger, arguably better players around, the spotlight firmly remains on Kohli.

There might not be GOAT debates dominating the conversation around Kohli – although he is probably the greatest white-ball batter – he continues to be picked apart like no other player in the sport.

Whenever Kohli walks to the crease, there is an anticipation and expectation like no other batter. That comes with Kohli being the most famous current cricketer due to him being something like a demigod in India – the most populous country in the world where cricket fortuitously is hysterically followed.

He is also married to a Bollywood star adding to the lustre in a country where cricket and its movie industry – two money-spinning beasts – are worshipped.

It means Kohli remains front and center of Indian cricket. Those who say he is the most influential figure in cricket do not have tongue in cheek. Kohli has had one of the most celebrated careers in the sport having been part of India’s last World Cup triumph in 2011 and has legit claims to being the best all-format batter.

He’s also probably the first-ever GOAT of the IPL – although there are no passionate discussions over any rivals in a point of difference to the discourse of American sports.

But the big thing lacking for Kohli is an IPL title having gone to the well since 2008 and coming up continually short. It is hard to believe that Royal Challengers Bangalore have a barren trophy cabinet. They are the glamour franchise in the IPL something like the Lakers and Yankees in America.

They’ve often splurged with headliners to mould around the stability of Kohli, who has been the constant presence of RCB. It has led to them being humiliatingly labelled as underachievers much to the glee of opponents who are more than happy to stick the boot in at every opportunity.

But the rabid fanbase of RCB is getting testy and their patience has run thin. While their counterparts in the Women’s Premier League were able to quickly lift a trophy, the time has come for RCB to similarly break their long-time jinx in the IPL, which dominates the cricket landscape over the next two months.

But if RCB’s campaign goes awry then the wrath might be directed at Kohli, whose form in T20 cricket has shown signs of fatigue leading to question marks over whether he was still in India’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The 35-year-old Kohli is clearly at another phase of his career. He’s not going to crash and bash, but rather pick his spots and shift gears subtly. A bit like James does these days for the Los Angeles Lakers where he can still take over games at the right moments.

But things have not started well for Kohli after RCB lost their opener to Chennai Super Kings by six wickets. In his return to cricket after a break due to the birth of his second child, including missing India’s triumph over England, Kohli could not get going and made a relatively sedate 21 off 20 balls at the top of the order.

Kohli deserves time to rediscover his touch, but patience is not something the RCB faithful has a lot of at the moment.