India's star batter, Virat Kohli, endured a tough outing in the first innings of the opening Test against Australia in Perth, falling cheaply for a 12-ball duck. Facing a sharp Josh Hazlewood delivery, Kohli edged to Usman Khawaja at slip, continuing a lean patch that has raised questions about his batting approach.
Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar analyzed Kohli's technique, identifying a key flaw that is exposing him to short-pitched bowling.
Manjrekar's Analysis: Kohli's Preoccupation with Swing
Manjrekar explained that Kohli’s adjustments to counter the swinging ball—especially deliveries pitched up—have made him vulnerable to shorter balls.
Overcompensating for Full Deliveries:
"Post-[2023], Kohli has been very focused on negating the full-length, swinging ball by batting outside the crease and getting on the front foot. However, bowlers are now targeting him with shorter deliveries," Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.New Zealand Series Struggles:
He pointed to Kohli’s lackluster performance in the home Test series against New Zealand, where short-pitched balls troubled him, resulting in just 93 runs across six innings.
The Australia Challenge
Manjrekar noted that Kohli’s premeditated front-foot play could backfire in Australia, where pace and bounce amplify the effectiveness of short-pitched bowling.
"So basically, he's put all his eggs in one basket... about not getting out on the front foot to swinging full-length balls. But that now makes him vulnerable to deliveries that are shorter," he added.
Kohli’s Way Forward
To overcome this challenge, Kohli may need to tweak his approach, especially against teams like Australia, whose pacers excel in exploiting conditions that favor short-pitched bowling.
As Kohli looks to bounce back in the second innings, the spotlight remains on whether the modern great can adapt and overcome this technical hurdle.