India captain Virat Kohli got his first half-century of the series in the third Test at Headingley.
Former India speedster Ashish Nehra has backed Indian skipper Virat Kohli to overcome his batting troubles and score runs in the remaining two matches of the Test series against England. Kohli has got only one half-century in the three-Test matches played in the five-match series till now.
Recently, India cricket great Sunil Gavaskar had advised Kohli to have a chat with legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar before the next Test match. Ex-cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believed Kohli needs to leave more deliveries outside the off-stump as he did in 2018.
Nehra, speaking in a media interaction organized by Sony Sports, reminded the critics that Kohli has proved himself in the English conditions on the last tour. He also reacted to Gavaskar's comments on the Indian skipper during the interaction.
“First things first, somebody like Virat Kohli, he knows his game, that’s why he is here. He has been successful in the same conditions. Everybody knows when you talk about English conditions; they are not easy," he said.
"You just spoke about Sunil Gavaskar (urging Kohli to learn from Tendulkar and avoid the shot that is getting him out every time). Yes, if somebody like Virat Kohli feels he needs to do that, I am sure, he will definitely try to do that. But here, you also correctly mentioned that Virat Kohli got out in the slips, but not while driving all the time. He also got out defending. So it’s not like the ball is not there to drive, yet he is going for a cover drive,” he added.
England have been brilliant with the ball in the third Test at Leeds. They bowled out India for 78 runs in the first innings and followed the same performance in the second innings as the visitors were all-out on 278 runs.
On the fourth day of the match, England picked up India's 8 wickets in the morning session as the Kohli-led team lost the match by an innings and 76 runs.
Nehra praised England's bowlers for troubling the Indian batters and said, "Our bowlers also did that in one game. But I don’t think Virat Kohli needs to change his technique overnight. In between a series, it is more about adjustment of your game and being mentally ready. Don’t think there is any problem with Virat Kohli when it comes to mental toughness."