Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma reckons sometimes the biggest strength could become a weakness while reflecting on his pupil dismissals in the first two ODIs against Australia. Kohli is known to be strong on his legs as he plays the flick shot with great success.
However, the talisman was dismissed LBW on both occasions in the first two matches against the visitors while attempting the same shot. In the first ODI in Mumbai, Mitchell Starc got the ball to move back into the right-hander and he was dismissed after scoring four runs.
Subsequently, Kohli was looking settled at 31 in the second ODI at Vizag before Nathan Ellis plumbed him in front of the wickets with the ball coming back into him.
Meanwhile, Kohli had scored a fantastic knock of 186 runs in the fourth Test match at Ahmedabad but he could not carry the same form in the first two ODIs.
Rajkumar Sharma said on India News Sports, “Virat Kohli got out to a brilliant delivery. You don’t often see him get out while playing this particular shot. That is a bread-and-butter shot for him and he scores a lot of runs with the flick. However, he got out in the same fashion in both matches.”
“He was batting well in the second game and played through a tough patch when Starc and Green were bowling. It was unfortunate that got out on Ellis’ first ball. You don’t see him get out the same way twice. But at times, your biggest strength could become your weakness.”
Sharma urged the Indian batters to change their template after they were skittled out for a below-par score of 117 runs. Only four Indian batters could only reach the double figures in Vizag, which was obviously disappointing.
“The third ODI is of utmost importance. The winner of this series will have a psychological advantage when India and Australia square off at the World Cup. The top order batters will have to find a way to counter Mitchell Starc.”
“We have set a template wherein we want to make the most of the powerplay. In that case, the batter wouldn’t leave the outside off deliveries. However, you also need to see the quality of the bowler that you are facing. India will have to change the template a bit.”
The deciding ODI will be played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday.
