Virat Kohli’s vulnerabilities are well-known to all, Says Mohammad Kaif
Virat Kohli's vulnerabilities are well-known to all, Says Mohammad Kaif
Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif observed that even infrequent Australian bowlers know Virat Kohli’s weakness.
Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has provided observations regarding Virat Kohli’s difficulties with good-length balls outside the off-stump. He noted that Kohli’s dismissals tend to occur in a consistent manner.
In a video posted on his social media, Kaif highlighted that Kohli’s forward press, which involves committing to the front foot too soon, makes him susceptible to balls delivered in the corridor of uncertainty.
See the video here
Rohit form? Virat and Outside off deliveries? Bumrah Workload? Siraj Behaviour?
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 9, 2024
Australia v India, BGT Report Card#CricketWithKaif11 #bgt2024 pic.twitter.com/aHFSUkTrUP
“Boland, who plays only a few Test matches each year, clearly understands how to bowl to Virat Kohli. By consistently targeting the area outside the off-stump, he tempts Kohli into playing at it, leading to an edge and a caught-behind dismissal. This strategy is no longer a hidden tactic. It’s well-known. If Boland can figure out how to dismiss Kohli, why can’t we apply the same approach to Travis Head? If his vulnerability lies outside the off-stump, why aren’t we consistently targeting that area,” says Kaif.
Indian bowlers should focus on targeting Australian batsman Travis Head in a manner similar to how opposing bowlers approach Virat Kohli. Head has emerged as a significant threat to India, having delivered match-winning centuries against them in both the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup 2023 final over the past year, Kaif added in his post.
The Australian bowlers took advantage of the star batter’s vulnerability outside off-stump, leading to his dismissals for scores of 7 and 11 in the second Test.
In discussing the second Test of the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kaif highlighted Kohli’s dismissals during the Adelaide match. Kohli was dismissed by similar balls outside the off-stump in both innings, revealing a recurring technical issue.
Even though India faced defeat in the second Test, Kaif conveyed his belief in the team’s potential to recover in the series. He emphasized that India is still a formidable team and forecasted a resurgence in the next match at the Gabba.
