IPL2025: Although Virat Kohli has made some adjustments to his batting strategy over the years, former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is certain that the champion batsman will have a “big impact” on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s results.

Kohli will once again start at the top of the RCB batting order after displaying hints of his former form during the most recent Champions Trophy. On Saturday, the 36-year-old will play for RCB at Eden Gardens against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

“He will undoubtedly make a significant effect once again, as he has in almost every season of this competition. In an interview with the media on Friday, Williamson said, “I know he’s really motivated with RCB to push for a title and I’m sure they’ll be there or thereabouts this season.”

Williamson, who didn’t sell at the IPL auction last year, said that Kohli’s altered style of play won’t have an impact on his effectiveness or batting.

It’s fascinating to see how athletes transition into various periods and stages of their careers. His style may have changed over the years, but it’s clear that he’s been around for a while.

“But the hunger remains and the passion remains and we’ve seen that in his performances recently as well,” he said.

Williamson was a little dubious about using saliva to shine the ball in order to make any discernible alterations in white ball cricket, but he thought it would provide the bowlers some breathing room.

Shining the white ball has always been difficult for me in white ball cricket. We’ll have to wait and see whether the elimination of the saliva restriction has a significant effect. Any assistance in shining may be beneficial, I think.

“If it swings, it really increases the number of seam and swing bowlers in the game. The IPL often has great pitches for batting, however the boundaries are sometimes smaller.

Williamson, a JioStar specialist, said, “I think it will be great for the competition to have the ball swing a little bit more and if saliva can help that.”

According to Williamson, the all-rounders’ function may remain somewhat unimpressive even after the BCCI opted to keep the Impact Player regulation in place for the 2025 IPL after considerable consideration.

It does, in fact, somewhat. That Impact Player and your actual strategy for the game are thus shaped by the fact that you choose your side after the toss. After all, you now have five front-runners and maybe a sixth alternative.

“Most teams sometimes possess even more. The majority of teams are then batting to eight and beyond with the bat. As is well known, batters encounter a relatively small proportion of balls after seven in T20 cricket.

“So naturally that sort of tells you that the all-round option is perhaps still attractive but not quite as important as it has been in the past.”

The Kiwi, however, also saw the benefit of the regulation.
However, there are also some advantages, such as the fact that it has altered the game. Naturally run rates have all gone up, according to some recent data I reviewed,” he remarked.