NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s frailties against spin continued to haunt him in the second Test against New Zealand on Friday in Pune. The manner in which Kohli got dismissed left everyone surprised and drew widespread criticism from all quarters.
Former India captain Anil Kumble suggested that Kohli could have benefited from playing domestic cricket to prepare for India’s lengthy Test calendar.However, he emphasized that this wasn’t the sole reason for Kohli’s struggles against spin.
“Perhaps just one or two innings in a match situation could have helped. Being in an actual game is definitely more beneficial than just practice; it gives an upper hand. If he feels that playing earlier would have benefited him, and the team management agrees, then maybe it would have. However, I don’t think we can look at that as the only reason for his struggles against spin,” Kohli told Jio Cinema.
Kohli was clean bowled for just 1 by New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. The dismissal occurred when Kohli misjudged a low full toss, failing to connect as the ball slipped under his bat and crashed into the stumps, leaving him visibly frustrated.
Kohli’s struggle with spin has become a recurring theme, particularly in Asian conditions. This latest dismissal marks the 21st time since 2021 that he has fallen to spin in Asia. Kohli, a dominant force in Test cricket with over 9,000 runs to his name, has seen his form against spin noticeably decline over the past few years.
“When he’s come to the crease, the pitches have often favored spin, which is a significant factor. His challenges against spin at the start of his innings haven’t been solely due to mindset but also conditions that aided spinners. This contributed to the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli to the left-arm spin of Glenn Phillips, who was brought on as a strategic move. Even the best modern-day batters find these situations tricky,” Kumble added.