Former England spinner Monty Panesar has urged English team to get under the skin of Virat Kohli in the upcoming five-match Test series. Kohli has an exceptional record in Indian conditions and he is going to hold the key for the home team in the middle order.
The talisman has amassed 8848 runs in 113 Test matches at an impressive average of 49.16 and he will look to be at his best against England. Panesar, who played a key role in England’s win on the 2012 tour to India, said the visitors should sledge Kohli on the lines that India has failed to cross the line in the final of the major ICC events whereas England has won the ODI World Cup 2019 and T20 World Cup 2022.
“Play with his ego and get psychologically stuck into him. They should also say things to him like, you guys are chokers when it comes to the final. They should sledge him on those lines because Stokes has won the ODI and T20 WC and Kohli has not and that is going to mentally pinch him,” Panesar told India.com
Kohli has scored 1991 runs in 28 Test matches against England at an average of 42.36 and thus he needs nine more runs to complete 2000 runs.
Panesar backed James Anderson to get rid of Virat Kohli with reverse swing in the upcoming series.
“I think it will be James Anderson and I think it will be the reverse-swing that would get Kohli,” Pansedar added.
Meanwhile, Kohli has scored 4144 runs in 50 Test matches in the Indian conditions at an impressive average of 60.05. Panesar’s suggestions are interesting as Kohli is known to thrive when he is involved in a verbal battle with the opposition and England would take some risk if they poke the bear.
India and England will take on each other in the first Test match from 25th January onwards at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
