Kohli Faces Self-Doubt Amid Struggles, Says Manjrekar
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New Delhi, Jan 4 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar shared his insights on Virat Kohli’s current challenges with deliveries outside the off-stump, particularly after Kohli's dismissal on Day 2 of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney.
Kohli’s frequent dismissals to similar types of deliveries have sparked concerns regarding his form, with Manjrekar suggesting that the batter is now facing self-doubt despite his efforts to address this notable weakness.
In this series, Kohli was dismissed by Australian bowler Scott Boland for the fourth time. Boland’s relentless focus on the channel outside off-stump resulted in Kohli edging yet another delivery to the slip cordon. This incident underscored a troubling pattern, as it marked the eighth time in nine innings that Kohli succumbed to this same vulnerability.
While analyzing the dismissal on Star Sports, Manjrekar noted a crucial shift in Kohli's batting stance, highlighting that for the first time in years, Kohli positioned himself deep inside the crease in an effort to counteract his weakness.
“He’s gone back and he’s inside the batting crease. That is quite unusual for Virat Kohli. Typically, he prefers to step outside the crease. He’s attempted everything in his arsenal, yet on this occasion, staying inside the crease yielded the same result,” stated Manjrekar.
“What can he do? Mark (Nicholas) pointed out that he is now evidently struggling with self-doubt due to the repetitive nature of his dismissals,” he continued.
Manjrekar compared Kohli's situation to other cricketing legends, acknowledging that even the greatest players experience slumps, but rarely in such a recognizable and consistent fashion.
“Many legends have encountered rough patches, but not to the extent of being dismissed consistently for one particular shot without finding a solution,” he remarked.
“One more point about that dismissal is that you have to sympathize with Virat Kohli. There were moments when he attempted to leave balls outside the off-stump, and for the first time in many years, you can see him deep inside the batting crease,” he added.
Kohli started the series strongly, making a century in the opening Test in Perth. However, his performance significantly declined, concluding the series with just 190 runs over five matches (nine innings) at a modest average of 23.75.
Kohli’s difficulties mirrored India’s struggles on Day 2 of the Sydney Test. After resuming their second innings with a slight lead, India ended the day at 141/6, maintaining a 145-run edge over Australia. Rishabh Pant provided a moment of brilliance with an explosive 61 off 33 balls, countering the Australian bowlers. Nonetheless, Scott Boland’s impressive four-wicket haul kept the hosts in a commanding position.
All-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar remained at the crease as stumps were drawn, fighting to extend India’s lead into a challenging total.
