Explained: Virat Kohli’s Tactical Adjustments And Its Impact In Perth Test

On Friday, during the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, Virat Kohli found himself walking out to bat at 14/2, a situation tailor-made for a player of his caliber. But even the best stumble, as Kohli’s brief stay in the middle ended due to a combination of technical tweaks and challenging pitch conditions.

India’s top order crumbled early, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal dismissed cheaply. Kohli, known for his composure and experience, walked in at this critical moment. With India reeling, the responsibility to stabilize the innings was firmly on Kohli’s shoulders.

Kohli’s Technical Adjustments

Change in Guard Position

Kohli made a notable shift in his guard, moving closer to the off stump. Unlike his usual middle-leg guard, this adjustment aimed to help him counter deliveries in the fourth and fifth stump channel a line that has troubled him in the past. While it allowed Kohli to cover his off stump better, it also restricted his ability to deal with deliveries targeting the body.

Standing Outside the Crease

Another tactical decision was to bat outside the crease. This approach is often employed to negate swing and movement. However, on Perth’s bouncy pitch, it posed additional challenges. By standing outside the crease, Kohli reduced the time available to react to rising deliveries a factor that eventually contributed to his dismissal. Majority of the 12 deliveries he faced were around that length and Kohli remained itchy to get on to the front-foot to deliveries he was better fending off the back foot by making adequate use of the depth of the crease.

Hazlewood’s Prowess and Kohli’s Dismissal

Josh Hazlewood’s plan was meticulous. After probing the good-length area, he pushed his length slightly back to exploit Kohli’s urge to play on the front foot. This adjustment left Kohli vulnerable to a rising delivery, ultimately leading to his edge and dismissal.

Perth’s pitch is notorious for its bounce, and Hazlewood made the most of it. Kohli’s aggressive stance outside the crease didn’t allow him to adjust for the extra bounce, a key factor in his dismissal.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s Analysis

During the lunch interval, Cheteshwar Pujara provided a detailed analysis of Kohli’s dismissal. He pointed out that Kohli’s constant front-foot play left him vulnerable to deliveries that required back-foot adjustments.

“Standing outside the crease didn’t allow Virat to counter that rising delivery because there was no time to make that adjustment. When you stand outside the crease, you look to get on top of the ball but the bounce in the pitch never allowed that. Even the dismissal, he would have been on top of that ball had he played from the crease, off the backfoot,” explained Pujara.

Kohli has a stellar record in Australia, often dominating in challenging conditions. However, the Perth pitch, with its unique bounce, presented a different kind of test. While Kohli’s technical brilliance is undeniable, this innings serves as a reminder of the importance of adaptability.