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Sanjay Manjrekar feels for Virat Kohli despite noticing changes in his batting but not having the luck to overturn his outside off-stump woes.
Virat Kohli was visibly frustrated with his dismissal in the second innings of the Sydney Test. (Image: Screengrab/JioCinema)
The former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Virat Kohli might be going through a phase in his career where he is dealing with self-doubt. This comes after his premature dismissal on Day 2 of the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Kohli’s performances have come under the scanner after his regular dismissals to the delivery outside the off-stump line and now questions have been raised as to whether he can get past this mystery and find his best form.
The Indian batting veteran was dismissed by Scott Boland for the fourth time in the ongoing series. The Aussie quick remained persistent in targeting the channel outside the off-stump which Kohli managed to nick to the slip fielder. Today’s dismissal makes it the eighth time the batting great has been dismissed in such a manner, showing that there is a glaring weakness in his game.
Manjrekar however, remains empathetic and feels that it’s not the case that Kohli was not trying. In fact, the former cricketer pointed out that Kohli had made changes to his game like going inside the crease, but the lack of luck continued to haunt Kohli in the same area.
“I mean, he’s gone back and he’s inside the batting crease. Now that is a very rare thing for Virat Kohli to do. You know, Virat Kohli loves getting outside the batting crease going forward. He’s tried everything within his, you know, capabilities and on this occasion he tried being inside the batting crease, the same result,” said Manjrekar on Star Sports
“What do you do? And Mark (Nicholas) makes a good point about him now having clear self-doubt with what has happened and with the sameness of the end for every innings, “he added.
Kohli seemed to have put his concerns on form behind him with the century in Perth, but his form once again fell as he ended the tour of Australia with 190 runs from the five games at a below-par average of just 23.75.
Manjrekar reflecting on other cricketing greats, sees that legends also go through such challenges, but rarely in such a consistent and obvious manner.
“Lots of greats have gone through a rut, but not in the fashion where they’ve got out to one particular shot and the great has not been able to find a way,” he commented.
(with IANS Inputs)
- Location :
Sydney, Australia
