Calcutta/Bangalore: Ever since their disappointing first-round exit from the 2015 World Cup, England have made a remarkable improvement in the limited-overs format.
In one-dayers, England made the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy last year and have won six of the seven bilateral ODI series at home since the last World Cup.
In the shortest format, the Eoin Morgan-led side won three of their past seven bilateral T20I series and finished second best in the last ICC World T20, in 2016 in India, where they lost narrowly to the West Indies in the decider.
According to India captain Virat Kohli, England have come a long way as a limited-overs side.
"I think it is because of how they play their T20 cricket. The last couple of years, right from the World T20, they have been an explosive T20 side," Kohli was quoted as saying by the ICC website.
The increased impetus on white-ball cricket has also seen more England players participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well as in other T20 leagues in various countries. While not too many England players got picked in the auction earlier this year, several more have been brought on board since then.
"People are sharpening their skills according to the format and these are some of the best T20 players in the world right now. So, you get picked in the IPL," Kohli pointed out.
All-rounder Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali are Kohli's teammates at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the RCB captain acknowledged their roles in the team. "They are top guys.
"They are really optimistic and are helpful for the RCB team culture. It is good to have good people around," Kohli said.
David Willey, Sam Billings, Mark Wood, Alex Hales, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Jason Roy and Liam Plunkett are the other English players in the IPL, while Jofra Archer, making a mark in County cricket, is waiting in the wings to play international cricket for England.
Kohli had spoken in the past as well about the progress England made in the shorter formats.
"I think England are a very, very balanced side... One of the most balanced sides in the world at the moment. They bat right down to nine or 10, they are all explosive players... Five or six guys can bat and bowl, and they are gun fielders as well.
"We experienced that in India. They are pretty hard to get past and that's something that is going to be a challenge for every other team.
"We always related to England as a very strong Test team, but in the last two or three years post (the 2015) World Cup, they've really changed the way they play their cricket.
"It is indeed a challenge for all sides to play against them. Credit to them for shaping their short-format cricket so well," Kohli had said during the last Champions Trophy.
Kohli's team, though, aren't in a good position in the ongoing IPL, losing two of their three matches so far. Losing to Rajasthan Royals at home on Sunday, the skipper admitted having misread the Chinnaswamy track.
"Our thinking was that the pitch would behave slower, but we were surprised because the ball came on to the bat nicely in first innings. We did not think that it was going to be a 200-plus run wicket, but it happened. That's T20 for you," Kohli said after the match.
Kohli also defended Woakes, who was hit for 47 runs in four overs. "It is not necessary that every time Woakes walks out to bowl, he is going to get you wickets just because he has been picked up in the auction for a hefty amount."
