Dissecting The Madness Behind Virat Kohli's New ODI Approach

How Kohli evolved his spin game since 2025 [Source: AP]The “chasemaster” steered India past the winning line with utmost ease as Virat Kohli scored a scintillating century and helped the Men in Blue take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. It was a vintage Kohli performance as the Windies bowlers stood no chance against a man who scores runs for fun in ODIs.It was his 55th ODI hundred and 86th international ton as he now eyes the illustrious 100 centuries mark. India’s number 3 has scored plenty of hundreds in this format, but the one on Sunday was different.He was at his imperial best against the spinners, and those who say Kohli struggles against spin bowling were silenced, and the numbers tell the tale.Virat Kohli vs West Indian spinners in 1st ODIWest Indies had two quality spinners in their ranks: Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase. Left-arm spinners have often troubled Kohli across formats, and he was touted to trouble the great batter.However, Kohli looked assured against the two Windies spinners, and the numbers tell how he dominated the proceedings.BowlerSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBallsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike rateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRoston ChaseSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table26SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table21SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table123.8SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableGudakesh MotieSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table37SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table27SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table137SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(Kohli strike rate against the two Windies spinners in 1st ODI)As the data reveals, Kohli toyed with both Chase and Motie, and he never allowed the two spinners to settle in the second innings.The right-handed batter scored 37 runs off 27 balls against Motie, with a strike rate of 137. Moreover, against Chase, he struck at 123 as he kept the scoreboard ticking and helped India win the match.The Virat Kohli evolution vs spinSince 2025, Kohli has evolved his ODI gameplay against spin, and he no longer allows the slower bowlers to dominate him. From his ODI debut till 2024, the 37-year-old had solid numbers against spin bowlers, but he never truly took them down with ease, and that all changed last year.Also Read: Upon The Sacred Soil Of God’s Own Country, The King Conquers The Colossus Of 15,000CriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDataSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike rateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table92.6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDot %SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table38.7SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBalls per boundarySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table13.04SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBoundary %SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table35.44SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(Kohli vs spin in ODIs till 2024)Till 2024, Kohli had a strike rate of 92.6 against the spinners, which, in itself, was commendable. He had a dot-ball percentage of 38.7.Moreover, his boundary percentage was 35.4, which was still good considering many felt spin was his weakness in the ODIs. However, the numbers drastically changed since 2025.CriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDataSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike rateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table103.6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDot %SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table35.06SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBalls per boundarySelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table13.02SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableBoundary %SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table36.29SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(Kohli vs spin since 2025)Since 2025, Kohli has completely changed his ODI game against the spinners, and the numbers tell the difference. The strike rate has gone up to 103, which is a significant increase.The balls per boundary has also come down, and moreover, the boundary percentage has increased, showcasing how the former Indian captain has turned his weakness into his biggest strength.How this change against spin could help Kohli in 2027 ODI World Cup?India will play most of their 2027 ODI World Cup matches in South Africa, and given South African conditions, people assume the batters will get fast and bouncy wickets, and the surface is not conducive to spinners.However, if the ongoing South Africa vs Australia ODIs are to be taken as an example, then it could be inferred that spin will play a big role in next year’s World Cup.In the first ODI in Durban, Keshav Maharaj ran riot as he scalped 4 wickets and almost single-handedly dragged his team back in the contest. There was enough purchase for the spinners, and Maharaj utilised it.In the second ODI at Wanderers, Maharaj once again picked up 2 wickets, indicating that while the South African conditions do favour the fast bowlers, spinners will come into play when the marquee event begins next year.Hence, Kohli’s new and improved gameplay against spinners will come in handy on South African pitches, and instead of taking singles and doubles, he can easily dominate them to help India win the matches.Also Read: How Can India vs Pakistan Still Happen In Asian Games 2026?