Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has claimed that Virat Kohli is not trying to tackle his weakness in Test cricket. Manjrekar mentioned Kohli’s well-known weakness outside the off stump after his recent dismissal in the first innings of the Adelaide Test against Australia.
It is to be noted that Virat Kohli used to average above 50 in Test cricket a few years back. He was one of the few batters in world cricket to average over 50 in all three formats of the game.
However, his form dipped significantly in Test cricket since 2020. He has struck just three hundreds in 35 Tests since January 2020 and one of those hundreds came in the first Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Virat Kohli not trying to tackle his weakness in Test cricket – Sanjay Manjrekar
After Virat Kohli was dismissed in the first innings in Adelaide, Sanjay Manjrekar took to social media to express his views on his dismissal. Manjrekar spoke about Kohli’s dip in average and his well-known weakness outside off stump.
However, he took a dig at the star India batter claiming that he is adamant not to try and tackle his weakness and instead keeps getting out the same way every time.
“One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now, is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially his adamance to not try another way to tackle it,” Manjrekar posted on X (formerly Twitter).
One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now, is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially his adamance to not try another way to tackle it.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 6, 2024
Virat Kohli out for another low score
Virat Kohli was dismissed for just 7 during the first innings of the Adelaide Test. He faced 8 balls during his knock and also struck a boundary. However, the old weakness outside off stump became the mode of his dismissal once again.
Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc bowled a length ball outside off stump. The ball bounced awkwardly and it left the batter in two minds whether to play or leave. In the end, he ended up getting a fat outside edge towards second slip where Steve Smith took the catch cleanly.
Kohli’s wicket brought Australia back into the game after a steady partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. The wicket was important in the context of the game for Australia as Kohli struck a brilliant unbeaten hundred in the previous Test.
Virat Kohli’s dip in form in Tests
Virat Kohli’s average has dipped significantly since 2020 in Test cricket. Although the overall career average still stands over 48, it has gone down from earlier. The 36-year-old was expected to score big in Adelaide since it is his favorite ground as well.
However, his weakness outside off stump became his mode of dismissal once again. India were put in a precarious position by some fine Australian bowling in Adelaide. The Men in Blue are already 1-0 up in the series after a historic win in Perth.