Virat Kohli, one of cricket’s most formidable talents, has exemplified this Law time and again. Instead of engaging in verbal duels or responding to critics with words, Kohli has consistently let his performance on the field do the talking. This approach has silenced his detractors and elevated his status as a cricketing legend.

After the second Test of a particular series, commentator Sanjay Manjrekar remarked that Kohli should be given one more Test to prove he belonged at the highest level. Rather than countering with words, Kohli responded with his bat. In the third Test, he scored a gritty 44 and 75, showcasing his resilience and determination. He followed up with a century in the fourth Test, emphatically proving his critics wrong. Kohli’s response through consistent performance underlined his belief in actions over arguments.

During the Melbourne Test 2014, the Australian team tried to unsettle Kohli with continuous sledding, even labeling him a “spoilt brat.” Kohli, known for his fiery temperament, chose not to engage verbally. Instead, he let his bat respond, scoring a magnificent 169 and dominating the Australian bowlers. His commanding performance clearly showed that his cricketing prowess would overshadow verbal confrontations.

England’s James Anderson claimed that Indian pitches hid Kohli’s weaknesses after the Indian captain scored 235 in Mumbai. Kohli did not respond directly to Anderson’s remarks. Instead, he set his sights on the 2018 England tour. He scored 593 runs there, proving his ability to excel on challenging foreign pitches. Despite his earlier comments, Anderson could not dismiss Kohli throughout the series. Kohli’s prolific run-scoring in England was a powerful testament to his strategy of letting his achievements speak louder than words.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag suggested that Kohli should consider dropping himself if he failed the Centurion Test against South Africa. Kohli’s response came through a masterful lone warrior knock of 153 at Centurion. By excelling in adverse conditions, Kohli demonstrated his leadership and skill, nullifying doubts about his place in the team without uttering a word.

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins predicted that Kohli would not score a century in Australia’s 2018-2019 Test series. Instead of responding to Cummins’ bold claim, Kohli focused on his preparation and performance. He scored a brilliant 123 in the second Test at Perth, proving his mettle in challenging conditions and negating Cummins’ prediction through sheer excellence on the field.

During a match in 2017, Williams performed his “notebook celebration” after dismissing Kohli. In their subsequent encounter, Kohli let his bat do the talking. After rejecting him, he scored heavily against Williams and mimicked the “notebook celebration,” turning the tables fittingly and memorably. Using performance as a response highlighted Kohli’s preference for actions over arguments.

Before the Asia Cup 2022, legendary cricketer Kapil Dev suggested that dropping Kohli from the T20 squad wouldn’t be wrong. Kohli chose to respond with his performance in the tournament. He emerged as the highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup 2022 and the T20 World Cup 2022, showcasing his enduring talent and proving his critics wrong through exceptional batting displays.

Virat Kohli’s career is a testament to the power of letting actions speak louder than words. By consistently responding to criticism and sledding through remarkable performances, Kohli has demonstrated a profound understanding of Law 9. His approach has silenced his detractors and solidified his legacy as one of cricket’s greatest players. Kohli’s journey underscores the timeless wisdom that true victory lies in action, not argument.