New Delhi: Weakening reflexes and greater reaction time is behind Virat Kohli’s continued technical woes, feels Former England cricketer David Lloyd, who also believes time is up for the former India skipper.
Kohli has struggled to replicate his prolific run-scoring form in recent years, with his weakness against the moving ball outside the off-stump capitalised by Australia in India’s 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar series.
Questions have risen about Kohli’s prolonged dry patch, with many believing he should be dropped from the Test team. India’s poor display in Australia forced the BCCI to call for a review meeting with skipper Rohit Sharma, who was dropped from the Sydney Test, and head coach speaking to Board officials.
Calls for dropping Kohli and Rohit from India’s Test squad for their next Test series in England in June has gained momentum and Lloyd thinks it would be difficult for Kohli to return to his free-scoring ways.
“Virat Kohli knows he is past his best and that will hurt. When India come to England, you know where he’s going to be. Just outside off stump, and the business area will be the slips. At 36 years of age, up in the mind, he knows what he should be doing. Your reflexes gently go.
“Ponting said he carried on a bit longer than he usually would have. The selectors should know. He is one of the greatest players we have seen but is past his best. The coach Gautam Gambhir will have an enormous say, a big say, because he has been in that dressing room. He has lost time. His time is over,” Lloyd told talkSport Cricket.
‘Time gone, comes with age’
The BCCI wants all national team players to play in domestic matches, which many former players have been vocal about. Kohli has been named among the probables for Delhi’s Ranji Trophy squad.
He hasn’t played Ranji Trophy matches since 2012 and is yet to confirm his availability for their next match that begins on January 23 even all his team-mates are expected to play for their respective states.
But despite what he does, Lloyd thinks it would be hard for Kohli to regain his touch that has allowed him to scoore 81 international tons to be second only to Sachin Tendulkar.
“The one thing when you talk about great cricketers, that the rest haven’t, is time. He has lost time. It’s gone. His time’s gone. It comes with age. Everyone tells you what you need to be doing. Stuff like ‘leave the ball’ watch it till the end. But it’s gone.
“These are great international bowlers. If it’s a repetitive way of getting out – in Test match you know there’s going to be a bank of slips’. If you keep nicking off, it’s a tell-tell sign for anybody that reflexes and reaction time is gone,” Lloyd added.
Virat Kohli has struggled to replicate his prolific run-scoring form in recent years, with his weakness against the moving ball outside the off-stump capitalised by Australia in India’s 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar series. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
