As India gears up for the high-stakes Champions Trophy 2025 clash against Pakistan, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns about Virat Kohli’s struggles against a specific type of bowling. Gavaskar pointed out that Kohli getting out in a similar manner repeatedly could be a weak spot that opposition teams, including Pakistan’s pace attack, might exploit.
Kohli’s Recent Dismissals – A Pattern Emerging?
- Weakness Against Swing & Extra Bounce 🎯: Gavaskar highlighted that Kohli has been getting out to deliveries outside off-stump that either move away or rise sharply.
- Pacers Targeting His Off-Stump 🏏: Bowlers like Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are likely to test Kohli with deliveries in that channel, especially early in his innings.
- Lack of Big Scores in Recent Matches 📉: While Kohli remains India’s batting mainstay, his dismissals in similar fashion have raised concerns about his ability to counter quality pace attacks.
Gavaskar’s Take on Kohli’s Approach
Speaking ahead of the marquee clash, Gavaskar said:
“A batter of Kohli’s class should not be getting out in the same manner again and again. He needs to work on this, especially against Pakistan, who have quality pacers who will exploit any technical shortcomings.”
Can Pakistan Capitalize on This Weakness?
Pakistan’s pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah will be keen to target Kohli early with outswingers and short-pitched deliveries. Afridi, in particular, has troubled Indian batters in previous encounters with his sharp new-ball spells.
Kohli’s Counterplan – What He Needs to Do
- Adjust His Footwork 👣: Kohli needs to be more decisive in his foot movement, ensuring he doesn’t get caught pushing tentatively outside off.
- Play Late, Leave More 🏏: A key strategy will be to leave deliveries outside off-stump early on rather than playing at them unnecessarily.
- Rotate Strike Quickly 🔄: Rather than getting bogged down, Kohli must look to take quick singles and avoid getting stuck against pacers.
Conclusion
While Virat Kohli remains a match-winner, Sunil Gavaskar’s concerns highlight a critical aspect that India must address ahead of their high-pressure match against Pakistan. With millions watching, all eyes will be on how Kohli tackles Pakistan’s pace attack and whether he can silence critics with a match-winning knock!
