"Gavaskar Confident in Kohli's Form Despite Off-Stump Weakness Against Australia"
Gavaskar Defends Kohli Amid Criticism for Off-Stump Dismissals
Sunil Gavaskar, former India captain and batting legend, dismissed concerns over Virat Kohli's repeated dismissals outside the off stump during the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide. Kohli, who had regained form with a century in Perth, fell cheaply for seven on Day 1 after edging a rising delivery from Mitchell Starc to the slips.
Critics, including Sanjay Manjrekar, attributed Kohli's struggles on bouncy pitches to his reluctance to tweak his technique, with Manjrekar noting this had contributed to Kohli's Test average dropping below 50. Kohli was dismissed similarly in Perth, raising questions about his continued use of a forward press that had previously brought him immense success.
However, Gavaskar argued that Kohli's technique, which has helped him amass over 9000 Test runs and 30 centuries, should not be a concern. "He’s got out twice in a similar fashion, so what? The man knows how to bat. He has 30 hundreds and over 9000 runs using the same technique," Gavaskar said on Jio Cinema, emphasizing that Kohli's record speaks for itself and there is plenty of time for him to find form in the series.
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden provided a contrasting view, noting that Kohli’s struggles stemmed from reverting to his traditional guard. "In Perth, he made clear decisions, getting in line with the ball and playing it straight. Here in Adelaide, batting conditions were tricky, and staying off-side made it harder to counter the movement. Getting close to the ball will be key for Kohli," Hayden remarked.
While Kohli’s dismissals have sparked debates, Gavaskar’s reassurance underscores the confidence in Kohli’s ability to bounce back and contribute significantly in the ongoing series.
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden said Kohli made the right decisions in the second innings in Perth, but in Adelaide, he again went back to his traditional guard of staying off-side to the line of the ball. "Batting conditions were tricky here. He was making good decisions in Perth (2nd inns). He was clear about his movement. He got in line with the ball and played it down the ground. This time, he went back to the traditional guard and stayed off side to the ball. When he starts to seam around, it becomes tricky, getting close to the ball is the key for Virat Kohli," he said.
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