India’s star batter Virat Kohli failed to improve his form in red-ball cricket in the first innings of the ongoing Test match between Australia and India at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Kohli was only able to last 12 deliveries before pacer Josh Hazlewood dismissed him for just 5 runs. As Kohli’s barren patch continued, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out major flaw in the 36-year-old’s technique.
“It’s something I’ve said before as well, post [2023] Virat Kohli has been very concerned about that ball pitched up, Jimmy Anderson kind, outside the off stump. So he stands outside the batting crease, wants to get on to the front foot to nullify the swing. But now bowlers are bowling shorter to him because of that,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
Manjrekar believes that the opposing bowlers are targeting Kohli’s body by bowling him short deliveries on the leg side. The former Indian cricketer also shred his views on Kohli’s struggles with the bat in the Test series against New Zealand.
“We saw that in the Bangalore Test match, New Zealand bowlers doing that and Virat Kohli getting out on the leg side. Josh Hazlewood was generally fuller, 60% of balls in the full area, but the moment Virat Kohli started doing this, he went a little short,” Manjrekar said.
Manjrekar opined that Kohli’s front-foot technique makes him a bit vulnerable, especially on Australian pitches where the extra bounce only makes it worse for the star batter.
“So basically he’s put all his eggs in one basket, Kohli, which is about not getting out on the front foot, to that swinging full length ball. But that’s now making him a little vulnerable to all other deliveries, especially the one that is shorter,” Manjrekar concluded.
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