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Allan Border feels there mind be a mentality issue behind Virat Kohli’s tendency to get out fishing outside the off-stump.
India’s Virat Kohli reacts as he walks off the field after losing his wicket. (AP Photo)
Australian great Allan Border is worried that Indian number four batter Virat Kohli might have just ‘lost the edge’ in his batting. Border on Sunday said Kohli was repeatedly playing at deliveries which he’d usually leave, adding that he wasn’t sure if it was a mindset issue.
Kohli got out for 3 (16) trying to chase a ball well outside his off-stump against Josh Hazlewood. It left India reeling at 22/3 — which became 44/4 — in the chase of 445.
This was his second such dismissal in as many innings. Most of his other wickets this Border-Gavaskar Trophy and in the last two years have also come with him edging wide balls due to loose drives, or channel deliveries which have beaten him with bounce.
“Today’s dismissal, that’s normally a delivery he would have left alone if he was in his best possible form,” former Australian captain Allan Border said, as quoted by Fox Sports. “I’m not sure what’s going on with Virat mentally (and) whether he’s just lost that edge.”
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also expressed his concerns, saying Kohli hasn’t got a ‘jaffa’ in the series yet, suggesting he has lost his wickets on ordinary deliveries.
“He’s a player who’s going out there (and) almost trying to get on top too soon,” Vaughan said. “When he plays at his best, particularly in Australia and England when the ball does a little bit more, he just leaves the ball. Most of his dismissals in this series have been balls that he could have left. I don’t think he’s got a jaffa.”
Another issue hogging Kohli’s performances has been his entry points. He scored an unbeaten century in the second innings of the Perth Test but that was the only time he didn’t have to face the first new ball and a fresh Australian attack.
The lack of consistency from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul (who’s currently unbeaten at the Gabba) has put extra new-ball pressure on the aged middle-order pair of Kohli and Rohit, whose techniques need to be protected. At the end of the third day, India found themselves at 51-4 with Rohit and Rahul batting in hopes of preventing a follow-on.
- Location :
Brisbane, Australia
