Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has advised Virat Kohli to adapt his approach against spin bowlers, suggesting the star batter use his feet more and look to play aggressive shots to overcome his struggles. Kohli’s lean patch against spin in Asian conditions continued as he was dismissed for just 17 by Mehidy Hasan Miraz on Day 2 of the first India-Bangladesh Test in Chennai. This latest failure adds to his troubling record against spin over the past three years, with a subpar average and multiple dismissals to spinners since 2021.
Ravi Shastri’s Advice: Using Feet to Combat Spin
Ravi Shastri, former Indian head coach, emphasized Virat Kohli’s need to adjust his approach against spinners. Shastri suggested Kohli use his feet more aggressively, get to the pitch of the ball, and employ unconventional shots like sweeps or going over the top to unsettle spinners. His advice came after Kohli’s dismissal for 17 runs against off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz during the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. Shastri noted that Kohli has struggled with spinners over the last two to three years, making it crucial for him to adapt.
Kohli’s recent record against spinners in Asian conditions has been worrying, with an average below 27 since 2021. Shastri pointed out that although Kohli has had lean patches, he’s also made significant contributions in the past. According to Shastri, by using his feet and being unafraid to go for risky shots when the field is up, Kohli could regain control and put pressure back on the bowlers, much like he did when he scored prolifically.
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Challenging Tracks and Kohli’s Recent Form
Ravi Shastri also defended Kohli’s recent performances, highlighting the difficulty of some of the pitches India has played on. He cited instances of unlucky dismissals, where even skilled batters like Shubman Gill have been caught out in unexpected ways. Shastri acknowledged that while Kohli has endured some tough dismissals, he will be aware of his challenges and work towards finding solutions to overcome them, especially against spinners.
Despite a poor run from 2020 to 2022, Kohli’s red-ball form had seen a resurgence last year, averaging nearly 56. However, his 2024 performance has been inconsistent, averaging below 20 in just two Tests. Shastri believes that Kohli, as a seasoned player, will be introspective about his form and find the method that works best for him, trusting that solutions will come with time and adaptation.
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