Virat Kohli’s Major Technical Error Disclosed By Kevin Pietersen Before ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Virat Kohli silenced his doubters and detractors with a determined half-century in the third and final One-Day International against England in Ahmedabad, giving India a confidence boost ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Virat Kohli made a successful comeback in the last ODI after missing the first three matches of the series owing to a swollen knee and falling cheaply in the second.

With his 73rd ODI fifty against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the dashing right-handed batter led India's innings and helped them score a threatening 357. However, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen was dissatisfied with Virat Kohli's comeback performance.

Virat Kohli was dismissed by Adil Rashid for the 11th time in international cricket

Well, Kohli's fifty was a great indication for the Men in Blue ahead of the next ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but Pietersen remembered his demise, as the Indian batting icon was bowled by English spinner Adil Rashid for the second time in the ODI series and the 11th time overall.

He thinks Kohli could have taken advantage of his early start and pushed for a higher score rather than being out at a critical juncture. Notably, Adil Rashid bowled a brilliantly flighted ball right on the stumps, enticing Virat into a stroke. The ball landed near Kohli's middle and leg, bringing him forward.

He will be kicking himself: Kevin Pietersen on what Virat Kohli did wrong against Adil Rashid

With a little drift and a small turn away, it hit the outside edge of the former Indian captain's bat and fell into the hands of England wicketkeeper Phil Salt. Kohli didn't even wait for the umpire's decision, risking a massive stride and paying the price.

“He shouldn't be getting out to that ball. He's a much better player than that. And he will be kicking himself. That ball is bowled slowly through the air. So, he shouldn't have been over-committed on the front foot. He should have played back to it and he should have punched it into the offside, and he would still have been batting, and he probably would have gone on to get a big score,” Pietersen told Star Sports.

Pietersen dissects Kohli's dismissal

“You can see where it hits from a side-on angle. That hits the top of the bat and That hits the splice of the bat. Which means that he got his lengths wrong. That's nowhere near the middle of his bat. Have a look at that. That's where you can see where the ball has made contact with the bat,” he added.

Pietersen signed off by saying, “Look how far forward his bat is in front of his pad. This means he's got the length wrong, and he's too good a player to get out like that. He shouldn't be doing it and he shouldn't be giving Adel Rashid that chance to get his wicket. You watch Joe Root. He will never be overcommitted on the front foot like that. No way.”

Virat Kohli will next be seen in action for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. India begins its journey on February 20 against Bangladesh in Dubai.

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