Former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has showered praise on Virat Kohli, stating he is a fantastic player and feels the Indian batter’s struggle against left-arm seamers is a coincidence. Kohli has struggled against the likes of Mohammad Amir, Trent Boult, and Mitchell Starc with the ball coming back to him.

Starc had plumbed Kohli in front of the wickets in the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in the recent series when the right-hander was looking to flick the ball.

Kohli is known to be strong on his legs but he has perished while facing the left-arm seamers, who have got the ball to move back into him.

However, Kohli has been performing consistently and recently got back to his best at the top level. The right-hander scored a fine knock of 186 runs in the fourth Test match against Australia at Ahmedabad and he will want to carry the same form for RCB in the IPL.

“I think it was more of a coincidence than anything. Virat has been a fantastic player against all bowlers,” Taylor told India Today in a special interaction arranged by the ICC. “Sometimes a bowler just by coincidence can have your number.

“A left-arm seamer, I guess being lbw is the danger ball swinging back but Virat has been a fantastic player for years and I am sure he will be working on whatever he feels he needs to be. You look at the setup, I have full trust in Virat and what he does.”

Meanwhile, Kohli will play a key role in the WTC final against Australia, which will be played at the Oval from June 7. India lost the inaugural WTC final against New Zealand in 2021.

“I am sure him coming in at no.4, Indian players will be looking to him but at the same time the Australian team knows they need to get Virat out early to put that Indian middle-order under pressure. If they don’t, he can score big runs and quick runs,” Taylor said.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will open their IPL 2023 campaign against Mumbai Indians at their home ground of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 2nd April.