Kanpur: Virat Kohli would be desperate to find form in the second and final Test between India and Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. India head into the match as firm favourites to whitewash their fellow Asian rivals and register a mind-boggling 18th successive Test series win at home. The 280-run victory in the opening Test at Chennai served as a brutal reminder for Bangladesh, who came to India after claiming a monumental series win in Pakistan.
India showed no mercy on their neighbours, outplaying them in all three departments to bag a massive win despite no contribution from their stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. On the one hand, it’s a big positive to perform without the assistance of the best players in the team. On the other, the poor red-ball form of Rohit and Virat is a worry for the team ahead of a big Test season.
In his desperate bid to regain the form, Virat was seen sweating it out in the nets ahead of the second Test in Kanpur, starting on September 27, Friday. The Delhi batter’s comeback to Test cricket ended on a poor note with scores of 6 and 17 in Chennai in what was his first game in the longest format this year. Judging by his batting struggles in the net practice session at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, more agony awaits the Master batter.
Kohli’s weaknesses exposed in the nets
Kohli was seen struggling in the nets against both pacers and spinners who exploited his old weaknesses.
According to Indian Express, Kohli faced India’s top pacer Jasprit Bumrah for around 15 deliveries, in which he was beaten on at least four occasions. Although, Kohli hit some trademark shots, including a fluent cover drive, he was caught plumb in front by Bumrah, who shouted “saamne laga hai (You are plumb)”. Kohli acknowledged his dismissal and continued with his training session.
Bumrah upped the ante and troubled Kohli with some short of good length deliveries and induced an edge from Kohli. The premier pacer then straightened his line, trapping Kohli twice again as the ball lobbed after hitting his inside edge on both occasions. Bumrah quipped, “Aakhiri wala toh short leg ka catch tha (The last one would have been a catch at short leg).”
Kohli’s struggle continued against spin as both left-arm spinners – Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel – troubled the premier batter on more than one occasion. Axar even went through Kohli’s defences, castling the former India skipper.
Old weaknesses came back to haunt Kohli in the Chennai Test as the star batter edged one on the fourth stump line in the first innings before losing his wicket to a straighter delivery bowled by a spinner in the second essay.
Overcoming challenges is how Kohli has made his name and it won’t be surprising to see him put all his woes behind him to shine in Kanpur.
IND vs BAN: Indian bowlers exposed Virat Kohli’s old weaknesses in the nets as he struggled against both pacers and spinners in the practice session ahead of the second Test in Kanpur. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
