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3 mistakes Virat Kohli needs to address to regain his form in the 2nd Test

3 mistakes Virat Kohli needs to address to regain his form in the 2nd Test

Source: Twitter

A lot was expected from Virat Kohli in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, but the former captain disappointed with just 22 runs across both innings. He appeared vulnerable against spin in the second innings, a weakness he has struggled to address over the years. Kohli was dismissed by Hasan Mahmud in the first innings while chasing a sixth-stump delivery, and in the second innings, he was trapped lbw by Mehidy Hasan Miraz when he was on 17. Time and again, teams have exploited Kohli's vulnerability against spin, with opposition captains often introducing spinners from both ends when he comes to bat.

Over the past three years, his performance against spin has declined, affecting his overall gameplay in Test cricket. With just a day to go before the second Test in Kanpur, here are three mistakes Kohli should rectify to get back among the runs.

Learn from his Idol, Sachin Tendulkar

Kohli has long idolized Sachin Tendulkar, whose influence inspired him to take up cricket. During the 2003/04 Border-Gavaskar series, Tendulkar faced similar dismissals, repeatedly caught behind while chasing deliveries outside off-stump.

Frustrated, Tendulkar decided not to play a single cover drive in the fourth Test at the SCG, resulting in a magnificent double century. The Australian bowlers continued to deliver outside off, but he showcased remarkable mental strength by leaving those balls alone.

Kohli should adopt this strategy in the Kanpur Test. In the first innings of the Chennai Test, he fell victim to a sixth-stump delivery. The former captain needs to focus on playing within the 'V' and avoid anything pitched outside off.

Start being aggressive against spin

There was a time when Kohli would confidently take on spinners, aggressively targeting them in Test matches by hitting boundaries and putting them under pressure. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, his approach has shifted. He now tends to play defensively against spin in Tests, allowing the opposition to capitalize on this change in his game. Kohli needs to rediscover that attacking mindset to regain his edge.

He rarely uses his feet and tends to play from the crease, which makes it easier for spinners to bowl at him. In Indian conditions, the occasional ball can stay low, increasing the risk of lbw if the batter remains rooted to the crease. In the Kanpur Test, Kohli should adopt a more aggressive approach and show intent against Shakib, Mehidy, and possibly Taijul.

Replicating his ODI game

Kohli is a master of ODI cricket, with the format ingrained in his style. With 50 ODI centuries to his name, he should consider applying that same template in Test matches.

In ODIs, his approach involves finding boundaries while consistently rotating the strike with singles and doubles. This strategy could be effective against Bangladesh in the Kanpur Test. By adopting a positive mindset and focusing on rotating the strike, he can put pressure on the opposition bowlers.

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