In 2014, Virat Kohli arrived in England riding a wave of form and confidence. Fresh off a prolific tour of New Zealand and with centuries already under his belt in South Africa and Australia, expectations were sky-high. Many believed the England tour would be the final frontier for the rising Indian star in red-ball cricket. However, what unfolded over the course of the series turned into one of the toughest phases of Kohli’s career.
The Tour That Haunts Kohli
It was meant to be a defining chapter, but instead, England became a nightmare for Kohli. English seamers, led by veteran pacer James Anderson, ruthlessly exposed a technical flaw in his game — his vulnerability outside the off-stump. Kohli was repeatedly drawn into playing deliveries he should’ve left alone, resulting in a string of dismissals behind the wicket.
Anderson, with his mastery of swing and relentless probing outside off, made Kohli his prime target. Across five Tests, Kohli managed just 134 runs from 10 innings, averaging a dismal 13.4. English fans mocked his struggles, and critics questioned whether he could adapt to testing overseas conditions.
But instead of crumbling under the pressure, Kohli went back to the drawing board and sought guidance from none other than his idol.
Turning Point: A Call to Tendulkar
With a tour of Australia looming and bowlers preparing to exploit the same chink in his armor, Kohli decided it was time for a serious intervention. He reached out to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, hoping to fix the flaws that England had so brutally exposed.
“I came back from England and spoke to Sachin paaji. We had a few sessions in Mumbai,” Kohli revealed in an interview with the Indian Express. “I told him I was working on my hip position. He made me understand how crucial it was to take a big stride forward against fast bowlers, to commit early and align the hips correctly.”
That technical tweak – focusing on a strong forward press and better body alignment – proved to be the turning point in Kohli’s Test career.
Redemption in Australia
When India landed in Australia later that year, Kohli looked like a man transformed. The uncertainty outside off-stump had all but vanished, and his footwork was precise and confident. He amassed a staggering 692 runs in just four Tests, including four centuries – one in each match.
His twin tons in Adelaide were particularly memorable. Leading from the front in the absence of MS Dhoni (who missed the first Test), Kohli’s heroic performances nearly took India to victory in what turned out to be a thrilling contest. Though India fell short, Kohli’s resurgence was complete.
By the end of the series, he was the second-highest run-scorer behind Australia’s Steve Smith, and more importantly, he had answered every question raised during that forgettable England tour.
