Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels Virat Kohli already knows what Australia is going to plan against him in the upcoming Test series. Notably, India and Australia are all set to lock horns in a five-match series beginning from November 22 at Perth Stadium, Perth. Ahead of the series, there’s a lot of chatter around star India batter Virat Kohli’s form who’s been having a tough time with the bat in the longest format.
“Virat knows exactly what’s going to be planned. They’ll obviously start with that line outside the off-stump and gauge what his mood is. Generally these days he looks to leave balls outside the off-stump and if they have anything that’s pitched right up, he’ll look to drive,” said Manjrekar on Star Sports.
Further speaking ahead, Manjrekar also highlighted how Kohli has been cramped for room in recent times mentioning how New Zealand attacked the star batter. He also said that Josh Hazlewood could look to attack his pads with the middle stump line but stated that Kohli would be aware of all those tactics.
“Nowadays, they are also trying to cramp him for room and attack his body because he loves to get forward so much. So that is something New Zealand tried, which is very smart. And then if he is so focused outside off, that typical one of landing a ball on middle stump which Josh Hazlewood would try. So all those methods will be tried by the Australians and Virat Kohli is aware of that,” he added.
Kohli hasn’t been in the best of forms in recent times as he scored just 93 runs in the recent three-match Test series against New Zealand which India lost by 0-3. In the ongoing year, Kohli has scored just 250 runs from six Tests at an average of 22.72 with just one half-century to his name.
