Virat Kohli has recently faced challenges against spin, particularly left-arm spinners. His struggles became more evident during India’s series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, where spinners like Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Glenn Phillips dismissed him.
The trend continued in the Pune Test, where New Zealand’s left-arm spinner, Mitchell Santner, claimed Kohli’s wicket in both innings—once by clean bowling him and then trapping him LBW. With the upcoming third Test in Mumbai, Kohli, known for his formidable batting skills, appears determined to counter this persistent challenge. To prepare, he has been focusing intently on combating left-arm spin during practice sessions.
Kohli’s Intense Practice Against Left-Arm Spin
According to The Indian Express, Kohli’s practice sessions at Wankhede have centered around mastering techniques against left-arm spinners. He was observed stepping out of the crease to face deliveries both with and against the spin. To sharpen his skills further, he enlisted Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, two of India’s finest spinners, to bowl at him.
Notably, Kohli avoided a purely defensive approach, focusing instead on an aggressive strategy, aiming to reclaim his form and confidence against spin. These preparations underscore Kohli’s commitment to overcome a challenge that is unusual for a player of his caliber.
India’s WTC Hopes Hinge on the Mumbai Test
The Mumbai Test holds significant weight for India’s chances in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 finals. Having lost the first two games of the series, India faces a rare scenario, as they risk being whitewashed at home for the first time in over two decades—the last occurrence was in 2000 against South Africa.
To keep their WTC hopes alive, India must win the Mumbai Test and perform strongly in their upcoming five-Test series in Australia, where they need to secure at least four wins out of six remaining matches.
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