Virat Kohli (Image credit: X)

NEW DELHI: How much has T20 cricket changed over the years? A lot. The old formula of simply seeing the ball and hitting it hard has evolved into a game driven by technique, innovation and adaptability. Bat swings, unorthodox shots, new inventions and bottom-hand power have all become part of a modern batter’s playbook.As batters continue to evolve, bowlers too are constantly finding new ways to survive in this high-scoring era. Wide yorkers, slower deliveries, knuckle balls and clever variations are now key weapons in a bowler’s arsenal. Fielding standards, meanwhile, have touched another level altogether – breathtaking boundary catches, relay efforts and athletic stops that leave fans stunned in the stands. So, has T20 cricket become purely a youngsters’ game?Not really. While teenage sensations and young stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Priyansh Arya and Abhishek Sharma are firing on all cylinders, bowlers such as Sakib Hussain, Prince Yadav, Praful Hinge and Anshul Kamboj are also making a strong impact with the ball.At the same time, the experienced players – especially those in the 35-plus club – continue to match the intensity and hunger of the younger generation.Virat Kohli, now 35, is still smashing bowlers all around the park with the same intensity as players much younger than him. He is currently RCB’s leading run-scorer this season.Bhuvneshwar Kumar, at 36, continues to shine with the ball and remains among the leading wicket-takers this season.Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya, also 35, has played the role of a game-changer for Royal Challengers Bengaluru on multiple occasions this season.RCB star batter Kohli, speaking in a podcast with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said he feels T20 cricket has now become “a different game altogether” and not just a different format.“Every ball is an intense event. Every ball feels like the momentum can shift in the game. It’s almost like you’re playing a high-intensity Champions League football game where one bad pass or one slip, and the whole competition is done. So it’s getting to that level, the talent is through the roof. You see the youngsters coming in, the way they can hit the ball – they are growing up on powerful, explosive cricket,” Kohli said.Kohli went on to give the examples of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Grame Smith too. “There are different ways to achieve the same goals, and everyone has their own way of playing the game. We’ve had so many instances in the past where people bat with different stances. They hit the ball in different areas. Graeme Smith, for example, we felt it was very difficult for him to hit the ball through the off-side with a straight bat, but through the on-side, he was unbeatable. And if you look at it, he was a very successful Test player and a very successful Test captain. So you have to have that belief in your own game, even if it is different from others,” he said.“It’s not like an AB de Villiers, where everything aligned in perfection. Not like a Sachin Tendulkar, where the bat came down absolutely in a straight line. But people have found ways to succeed without having those abilities or that particular way to play the game. This is very similar for me, or in fact for Bhuvi as well. Today’s cricket, of course, is evolving and changing. That’s the nature of the game. T20 cricket came about as an evolution of the game. Today, it’s almost become a different game altogether, not just a different format. In fact, KL and I were talking the other day, and he said this to me: ‘It feels like a different game altogether. It’s not even a different format’,” Kohli said.