Rajkumar Sharma, the childhood coach of India skipper Virat Kohli, has pointed out one concern for his ward ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final. India lock horns with New Zealand in the marquee clash at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, which starts from June 18 (Friday).
All eyes will be on Kohli when India will lock horns with the Black Caps. Lately, Virat hasn’t been at his best form with the willow in the purest format of the game. However, if India wants to lift the trophy, then the skipper needs to lead from the front.
Heading into the WTC final, one of the biggest challenges for Virat Kohli will be to face New Zealand’s veteran seamer Tim Southee. It is a secret to none that Virat has struggled a lot against Southee and has failed to deliver any decent performances. The Kiwi pacer has managed to send the Indian skipper back to the pavilion as many as ten times.
Rajkumar Sharma also acknowledged the weakness of the right-hander while explaining why Virat has struggled against Southee. Rajkumar admitted that it is a point of concern but believes that Virat will work on his technique against Southee.
It is not that Virat Kohli doesn’t know where he has made a mistake but despite that Southee has dismissed him ten times, so it is definitely a point of concern and I feel Virat will work on this and leave more balls outside the off-stump,” Rajkumar Sharma said as quoted by Hindustan Times.
“The nagging length which Southee bowls, you need to decide if you have to play or leave the ball. He is bowling very well and his ball is swinging nicely. He becomes unplayable if it is even a slightly helpful wicket,” he added.
Further, in the interaction, Rajkumar Sharma believes that Kohli needs to fight with his urge of playing the cover drive against Southee to protect his wicket.
“This contest has been going on for a long time, from the Under-19 days when they were playing together, Southee for New Zealand and Kohli for India. So, somewhere or the other, Southee has been seen bowling with a very good strategy against Virat.
“Because of that only he has dismissed him ten times. The cover drive is Virat’s favorite shot. So Virat will have to think about showing restraint while playing the cover drive because he has got out in the slips quite a few times while playing that shot,” he signed off.