Virat Kohli’s ‘Technique Not Made For The New Ball’, India Teammate Advises Him To Make ‘Mental Adjustment’ After Repeated Failures – News18

Last Updated:December 17, 2024, 08:46 IST

Virat Kohli has repeatedly been dismissed in similar fashions in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy raising concerns over his dwindling form.

Is Virat Kohli’s tec

hni

que not suitable to negotiate the new ball in Tests?

That is the observation from one of Kohli’s former India teammates that seemingly have contributed to the string of low scores he’s endured in the ongoing tour of Australia.

126 runs from five innings with 100 coming in one. These numbers don’t do justice to Kohli’s record in Australia and his abilities. The Australian bowlers have stuck to bowling outside off to the batting stalwart whose propensity to chase after such deliveries has resulted in repeated outside edges that have either been caught by the wicketkeeper or in the slip cordon.

Cheteshwar Pujara feels that Kohli, who bats at no.4 in Tests, has been “forced to play” the new ball pointing fingers at the top-three batters for not spending enough time at the crease either.

“He (Kohli) has been forced to play the new ball. He has gotten out whenever he has played the new ball. When he played the old ball, he scored a hundred in Perth. So that’s also a very big point,” Pujara said on Star Sports.

“His tec

hni

que is not made for the new ball. His batting should come after 10, 15 or 20 overs. If he plays the new ball, the bowlers are fresh, and their confidence is also high. When they get two wickets, the entire team is charged up. So when you come to bat at that stage, it’s not easy,” he added.

In 17 innings so far this year, Kohli has managed just 376 runs at an average of 25.06 with his career-average dropping down to 47.40 – an eight-year low.

Pujara feels Kohli’s battle is more mental and only he can stop himself from chasing after the deliveries that are bowled outside off to him.

“In the match, for some reason, he wants to leave the ball but is unable to, and the bat is going there. So he will have to stop himself. He will have to change his mindset. There is a tec

hni

cal part that you are playing a delivery outside off-stump. However, if you have to leave the same delivery, it’s not a very big tec

hni

cal adjustment but he needs to make a bigger mental adjustment,” Pujara said.