IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli has been making headlines recently for his batting performance in Test cricket. The star batter is nowhere near the peak and consistency in his career. His batting average has dropped below 48 in Test cricket. Kohli has been in a lean patch in Test cricket recently, despite his century in the opening Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
In the second Test, Kohli scored 7 and 11 in the two innings against the pink ball. He has been constantly troubled by the pacers on the outside the off-stump line, which has also troubled him over the years.
What did Mohammad Kaif say about Virat Kohli?
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif uploaded a video on his X profile, where he talked about the tactics of the Australian bowlers to target the outside off-stump weakness of Kohli. He stated that even Scott Boland, who does not play so many Tests in a year, straight away knows what to do against Kohli. Kaif also asked the question to the Indian bowlers about why they couldn’t plan in the same way and attack against the weakness of Travis Head right from the start.
“Virat Kohli ki kamzori log pakad ke rakhe huye hai. Off-stump ke bahar ball dalo, wahan out honge. (People know Virat Kohli’s weakness and hold on to it. Bowl outside the off-stump, he’ll get out there.“ Someone like Scott Boland plays only two or three Tests in a year, but even he knows exactly where you need to bowl to Kohli. You know that Kohli will mess up around the off stump and send a catch to the wicketkeeper or slip cordon.”
Virat Kohli’s dig in form analysed by former cricketer Mohammed Kaif
“So, why can’t the Indian bowlers target Travis Head’s weakness consistently with proper planning? Why can’t we pinpoint Head’s weakness and keep bowling outside the off-stump or target him with short balls? Every batter has weaknesses; why can’t we plan properly against Travis Head and trap him?”
Head scored 140 runs off 141 balls in the Adelaide Test and took the match away from India’s grasp. He has been a thorn in the path of India in recent times, and the Indian bowlers have looked wayward against him. No bowler has targeted him with short-pitch deliveries right at the start of his innings when he is vulnerable to those deliveries.
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