Harbhajan Singh spills beans on Virat Kohli's new batting strategy to counter bounce ahead of Gabba Test
Virat Kohli has been India's biggest superstar for a decade or so. He has performed immensely over the years and is a proven match-winner. And Australia is one of this favorite places to bat. He started the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a much-awaited 30th Test ton in Perth but bagged the scores of 7 and 11 in Adelaide.
Virat has been struggling with form for the last year or so. After a fantastic 2023, his numbers have declined at a rapid pace in 2024 across formats. Understandably, the ace Indian batter has been under the scanner and faced criticism from fans. He is getting out searching the ball on the fourth and fifth stump.
That is how he got out in both innings of the day-night test in Adelaide. But India need him to score runs if they want to keep the hopes alive for the qualification into the World Test Championship final. India need to win all three tests, and in-form Virat Kohli is the need of the hour for the Indians.
However, the former captain is struggling with his form, and his way of getting out has been questioned by many former cricketers, cricket pundits, and fans. Hence, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has highlighted the change Virat can adapt ahead of the third test at the Gabba.
"Need to be on the back foot"- Harbhajan Singh highlights the change Virat Kohli is adapting ahead of the third test
Australia humiliated India with a ten-wicket win in the day-night test to level the series. That defeat has hurt India's chances to qualify for the WTC final. They have been dropped to third spot on the WTC table. The Indian batters failed in both innings and scored only 355 runs combined in two innings.
Hence, all the eyes will be on the Indian batting for the third test, which will be played at the Gabba, starting on December 14. Especially Virat Kohli, who is searching for runs again. India are practicing hard at nets to counter the Aussies quicks.
In an interview on Star Sports, Harbhajan spills the beans on Virat's new mantra to tackle pace and bounce ahead of the Gabba test. He said, “Yes, whatever little I have seen him batting in the nets today. I have played a lot of cricket with him. He is a front-foot player. It is the kind of bounce you get in Australia; you have to be good player of bounce. You need to have a good backfoot game. That’s what he was practicing,”
Harbhajan added, "Specifically I have noticed today. He was playing a lot of deliveries on the backfoot. He was going forward for the fuller ball, but those balls that were slightly shorter, he was either leaving or trying to play them." The former off-spinner praised Virat for trying a different approach to tackle the bounce in Australia.
The hopes are high, and everyone is expecting India to bounce back, which is why they need their seniors to fire in the third game. Virat Kohli, along with Rohit Sharma, needs runs, and if they can do well in the third test, India will have a great chance.
