The cover drive is arguably the most delightful and aesthetically pleasing shot a batsman can play. The resulting roar of applause from the crowd as the ball splits the fielders in the cover region is the ultimate reward for a batsman.
Why is the Cover Drive So Special?
The shot is a great challenge, requiring solid technique and utmost execution skills. It is often considered one of the toughest shots to master due to the precision and balance required.
Throughout the history of the game, only a select few have truly mastered the elegant cover drive, including Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Sourav Ganguly, Damien Martyn, Hashim Amla, Michael Hussey, Babar Azam.
While many batsmen have contributed to the shot’s legacy, when Virat Kohli executes a cover drive, it possesses a unique, divine touch.
The cover drive is well-known as the Indian captain’s favorite shot. The crisp sound of the ball meeting the sweet spot of Kohli’s bat is a rousing moment for all his fans, often referred to as ‘Viratians’.
To understand the beauty of this shot, it is essential to look at the techniques involved in a Virat Kohli cover drive. This detailed analysis is instrumental in learning how to play the cover drive with the same grace and execution as Kohli.
Virat Kohli Cover Drive Technique against Pacers
The Shuffle
- Virat Kohli’s signature shuffle is employed not only for the elegant cover drive but also for every single ball he faces.
- This forward movement is a key component that helps him effectively counter deliveries bowled outside the off stump.
- Crucially, the shuffle ensures his legs move more quickly, allowing him to get closer to the pitch of the ball with improved balance and control.
“The most important thing is to have a good balance when you’re driving the ball,” Virat Kohli said in a bcci.tv video titled ‘Batting masterclass with Virat Kohli’
The Head Position and Balance
- Virat’s head moves precisely along with his front toe.
- The head remains in a perfect vertical line above the front toe, never falling forward or backward.
“Your head position is very important and it should always be where your toe is,” ~Virat Kohli
The Footwork
When planting the front foot:
- The front heel connects with the ground first, immediately followed by the balls of the feet.
- The front toe points towards the extra cover region, with the front knee slightly bent.
- The stride is not excessively long, but a decent stretch is made to maintain optimal body balance and facilitate the transfer of weight.
- The batsman’s entire weight is meticulously balanced on the balls of his front foot.
The Role of the Back Foot:
- The back foot’s primary role is to generate base energy for the shot.
- It also supports the front foot, helping to maintain a steady body position throughout the stroke.
- When executing the cover drive, the back foot typically points towards the sweeper cover region.
Bat Grip and Hand Dominance
1) The Top Hand (Dominant Force)
- Virat’s cover drive is predominantly driven by his top hand, which dictates the control of the bat’s downswing.
- The shot appears so blistering due to the powerful push he makes with this top hand.
- Notably, the Kohli cover drive often shows an abbreviated follow-through; he tends to withdraw the bat shortly after making contact with the ball.
2) The Bottom Hand (Guide and Control)
- The bottom hand plays a secondary role, mainly used for guiding and controlling the bat swing.
- For his powerful grip, Virat typically uses only the thumb and index fingers of his bottom (right) hand on the bat handle.
The contact point and the top hand push
- Virat typically makes contact with the ball just in front of his front leg.
- This means the point of contact is deliberately kept close to his front pad and body, enabling maximum control.
- Immediately before contact, Virat generates a small, decisive push from his top hand. This action is key to adding power and precision to the shot.
“You make contact with the ball close to your body and close to your head, that’s how you stay in control.” ~ Virat Kohli
The Finishing Position: Elbow Elevation
- Virat’s elbow finishes high, often positioned just above his head.
- Crucially, both elbows are directed towards the region where he intends to play the ball, ensuring the bat path is aligned with his target.
Selecting the Right Length to Drive
- Standard Target: Any ball pitched as a half-volley outside the off stump is the ideal candidate for the cover drive.
- Adjusting to Movement: If the ball nips back slightly towards him, Virat sometimes collapses his back foot to adjust. In these situations, perfect bat swing and timing become even more critical.
- Aggressive Driving: Particularly during the death overs, Virat has been known to aggressively pick up even good-length deliveries and drive them between extra cover and sweeper cover.
“If the ball is much fuller, the sensible thing to do, which I do most often, is to collapse the back foot rather than bending the front foot, and connect the ball closer to the back leg, while still keeping the head where I need to make contact with the ball.” ~ Virat Kohli
The Crucial Wrist Work
- Virat possesses exceptionally flexible wrists.
- This flexibility allows him to open the face of the bat for wider deliveries, enabling him to expertly guide the ball to the right of the extra cover fielder.
Now let us look into other types of off-drive shots that are played often by Virat Kohli.
Cover Drive against Spinners
How often do you see a right-handed batsman execute a cover drive against an off-spinner? Virat Kohli does this often, and always in his conventional, stylish manner.
The Wrist Work Against Spin
- Against spinners, Virat injects significant power into the shot, primarily through his wrist.
- He makes full use of his wrist flexibility to hit the ball forcefully through the cover region.
- The shot is completed with a powerful flick of the wrist.
- Notably, against spin, he often utilizes a full follow-through due to the higher power he generates.
The Longer Stride
When facing spinners, Virat Kohli adopts a distinct technique:
- Aggressive Commitment: At times, his commitment to the shot is so aggressive that the back foot even moves outside the crease.
- Longer Stride: Unlike against pace, Virat takes a noticeably longer stride with his front foot.
- Reaching the Ball: This long stride, coupled with the upper body leaning forward and down, allows him to effectively reach the ball even when the spinner bowls at a good length.
- Back Foot Movement: As power is transferred to the front leg, the back foot is dragged backward.
The Lofted Cover Drive
Virat Kohli plays the lofted cover drive rarely, but when he executes it, the shot is extremely pleasing to watch.
The Technique
- Consistent Technique: He utilizes his same fundamental technique for the shot, with the only change being the bat face opening upwards to elevate the ball.
- Ideal Length: The key to this shot is the length of the delivery. He targets balls on a good length or slightly short to ensure he has enough room to get under the ball.
- Memorable Execution: The Indian skipper’s lofted cover drive for six off a searing Mitchell Starc delivery during the 2019 World Cup remains an iconic moment that mesmerized cricketing fans worldwide.
The Square Drive
This version of the cover drive is arguably the toughest dimension of the shot. While Virat Kohli plays it sporadically, it has been notably used in high-pressure matches, such as Test matches and famously against Pakistan and Australia in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
The Technique
- Target Area: This shot is played against wider deliveries and is aimed to send the ball between the sweeper cover and point region.
- Contact Point: To execute this, Virat allows the ball to enter deep into the crease before making contact.
- Body Positioning: The back foot bends down, lowering his body to ensure the ball meets the sweet spot of the bat.
- Wrist Work: Kohli relies heavily on his flexible wrists to maneuver the ball and thread it through the gaps.
Take a look at few scintillating cover drives played by Virat Kohli in cricket:
The Wrap up
Virat Kohli is an intellectual batsman who loves improvising his shots. Indeed, the square drive, lofted cover drive, and cover drive against spinners are the improvised versions of his cover drive.
It is Virat’s reliable techniques on these shots that have fetched him more options to go all around the offside region. It took him years of practice and determination to showcase cover drive at its best version.
For all those young cricketers who are reading this, here’s a say from Virat: “Driving is all about hitting the ball as close to the body as possible.”
