Harbhajan Singh breaks down Virat Kohli's struggles against spin: Details
What's the story
Cricket legend Harbhajan Singh has advised Virat Kohli to take a more relaxed approach while facing spin bowlers.
The advice comes after Kohli's performance in India's Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh in Dubai, where he managed to score 22 runs off 38 balls.
During the match, he struggled against spin, facing 10 dot balls before eventually being dismissed by leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.
Here's what Harbhajan had to say.
Performance analysis
Harbhajan highlights Kohli's struggle against spinners
Harbhajan, a World Cup-winning spinner himself, noted Kohli's struggle against slower bowlers and leg-spinners.
He advised Kohli to come up with a plan to deal with these kinds of bowlers and turn dot balls into singles.
"I certainly believe that slower bowlers, leggies, have given him some sort of discomfort. He needs to come up with some plan against leggies. He needs to find a way to convert those dot balls into singles," Harbhajan told India Today.
Psychological aspect
Harbhajan believes Kohli's struggle is more mental than technical
Further, Harbhajan stressed Kohli's battle against spin is more of a mindset problem than a technical one.
He urged the star batter to be more confident while facing spinners.
"I think he is getting stuck because he is taking a bit more time. I believe he needs to back himself and play like Virat Kohli. He has got nothing to prove to anyone," added Harbhajan.
Form slump
Kohli's recent performances raise concerns
Kohli's recent performances have raised concerns over his form.
In a three-match ODI series against England, he fell victim to leg-spinner Adil Rashid twice.
During the Test series in Australia, he struggled, managing only 184 runs across 10 innings.
Meanwhile, his poor form persisted in the ODI series against England and even in his rare Ranji Trophy appearance last month, where he failed to leave a significant mark.
Call to action
Harbhajan urges Kohli to regain his form
Harbhajan urged Kohli to get back his form and confidence, particularly against spinners.
He said, "He needs to back himself to showcase what Virat Kohli was. He can still do the job. It's just a mental thing."
Singh also emphasized on Kohli's contribution for the team saying "The team needs him to score runs."
This call for action comes as India gear up for their next match against Pakistan on Sunday, February 23.
Kumble
Kumble feels Kohli is 'trying bit too hard' in ODIs
Former Indian cricket team skipper and head coach Anil Kumble also voiced his concern over Kohli's current form.
He feels Kohli is "trying too hard," which is making it difficult for him to find his feet during a lean patch.
Since the 2023 World Cup, Kohli has only scored 137 runs in six ODI innings, including a solitary half-century.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo Match Day, Kumble said, "I think he's trying a bit too hard."
Numbers
A look at Kohli's stats while playing leg-spinners (since 2024)
As mentioned, Kohli fell to Rashid twice in the IND-ENG ODI series, where he managed scores of 5 and 52.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Kohli has scored only 33 runs from 56 balls versus leg-spinners across seven innings (internationals) since 2024. He averages a dismal 5.50.
His strike rate also reads low at a paltry 58.92. Kohli has faced a total of 32 dot balls versus leg-spinners.
In ODIs, he has 21 runs from 5 innings against leg-spinners at 4.20.
Stats
Kohli averages 57.78 in ODIs
The star batter is shy of 15 runs to reach the 14,000-ODI runs mark, having amassed 13,985 runs.
According to ESPNcricinfo, he averages 57.78, while he strikes at 93.43 across 298 ODIs (286 innings).
Additionally, he also boasts 50 tons (the most in ODIs) alongside 73 fifties.
Meanwhile, he also owns 551 runs in 13 Champions Trophy innings at 78.71, including five fifties.