IND vs ENG, 2nd T20I: 'Special chat' with De Villiers helped Kohli get back to his best

Kohli, who did not have the best of times in the preceding Test series by his standards and got out cheaply in the first T20, made an unbeaten 73 off 49 balls to power India to a seven-wicket win.

Virat Kohli celebrates after reaching his half-century during the second T20I against England.

Shifting his focus to the basics and a "special chat" with his Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate AB de Villiers helped India skipper Virat Kohli to bounce back to his best in the second T20 International against England on Sunday.

Kohli, who did not have the best of times in the preceding Test series by his standards and got out cheaply in the first T20, made an unbeaten 73 off 49 balls to power India to a seven-wicket win.

 

"I had to shift the focus back to the basics. Probably thinking of too many variables on the outside. I've always taken pride in doing the job for the team, so more happy about that than scoring 70 odd.

"Kept my eye on the ball. The management spoke to me about things. Anushka is here so she also keeps speaking to me about things. And I had a special chat with AB de Villiers before this game and he told me just to watch the ball. So I did," Kohli said at the post-match presentation.

He shared a 94-run stand for the second wicket with debutant Ishan Kishan, who made a sensational 56 off 32 balls.

 

"Special mention to Ishan. I tried to do what I can but he just took the game away from the opposition. Quality innings on debut. When you play in the IPL with such dominance like he has, against quality bowlers.

"We've seen him hit international fast bowlers for big sixes. He knew he was hitting the ball well but he was calculated, not reckless. Today that counter-attacking innings of his and our partnership was something the team needed," said Kohli praising the young southpaw.

The India captain also lauded his bowlers for limiting England to 164 for six.

"I think we ticked all the boxes we wanted to. Especially in the first innings with the ball. To give away only 34 in the last five, it was very smart bowling. Especially Washy (Washington Sundar), he had only one left-hander to bowl to and he used the big boundary to the right-handers better."

 

Kohli is pleased that his star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is back to bowling regularly, having gained full fitness after undergoing a back surgery.

"Credit to Hardik that he's bowling at least 3 overs for us in every game. And the next six to eight months period he has promised he is going to commit everything to being the all-rounder the team needs in all three formats.

"He plays for the team in all times and these kind of players are priceless."