BGT 2024-25: Manjrekar Points Out Kohli's Struggles with Outside Off Deliveries
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New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has emphasized Virat Kohli's challenges with deliveries outside off-stump, as the right-handed batsman was out for just seven runs in the pink-ball Test after being caught out by a well-placed delivery from Mitchell Starc.
A ball that was short of length, angling away and landing on a challenging fifth-stump line, caused Kohli to hesitate about whether to play or leave, ultimately resulting in him being caught in the slips, where Steve Smith was ideally positioned.
"One key reason why Virat's average has dropped to 48 now is his unfortunate weakness outside off. More importantly, his unwillingness to explore other strategies to address it," Manjrekar remarked on X (previously Twitter).
Kohli's Test average has decreased to 48, reflecting his declining performance in the format. Despite having an outstanding record at Adelaide, with an average exceeding 63 and over 500 runs, the venue provided no relief this time.
Kohli's dismissal was part of a larger collapse that saw India lose three rapid wickets after being well-placed at 69/1. The team's batting issues intensified as Australia took advantage of the momentum, with their bowlers skillfully exploiting the conditions. Starc secured three wickets as India found themselves at 82 for 4 just before Lunch.
