Former Australia cricketer Mark Waugh has said that while Virat Kohli had great concentration when he has the bat in his hand, but he needs to work hard on his focus while standing in slips. His comments came during day one of the 1st Test between India and Australia at Nagpur.
Kohli has a slip in concentration during the 16th over of the Australian innings bowled by Akshar Patel when he dropped a tough chance of Steve Smith just as he was starting his innings.
Smith went for an expansive drive against Akshar and got a thick outside edge, which flew quickly to the right of Kohli, who was standing at the first slip. Kohli stretched his right hand but the ball did not stick.
This was after Australia was reduced to 2/2 as openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja were dismissed by pacers Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj respectively. Smith (37) and Marnus Labuschagne (49) added crucial 82 runs for the third wicket to bring some stability to the Aussie innings.
Meanwhile, Australia was bowled out for 177 on day one with Ravindra Jadeja taking 5/47 including both Smith and Labuschagne, while R Ashwin took three wickets as well. India ended day one on 77/1 with Rohit Sharma on 56* and KL Rahul being the one dismissed for 20 runs.
During his commentary stint for Star Sports, Mark Waugh, who is considered to be one of the best slip fielders of his time, said Kohli needs to focus a bit more and think like a batter when at slips in Test matches.
"Fielding at slip off the spinners, you got to judge the depth you want to stand. I felt that the catch that Kohli put down, he was rushed into taking the catch. I think there are a few technical things that Kohli can work on. I think his feet are too wide apart. His weight is often is on the back of heels rather than on his feet. Sometimes, he looks like he is not expecting the ball. He has got to be expecting the ball every single delivery," Mark Waugh said.
"You got to be focused and concentrating, which is not something I would every say Virat Kohli is not doing. He is a great technician with the bat, he concentrates on so hard. May be, sometimes he needs to keep expect the catches at the first slip. Just a few technical changes, he is a pretty good fielder but slip is a tough spot," he added.
Waugh, who took 181 catches in 128 Tests, shed light on what a slip fielder needs to succeed in the longest format of the game.
"You have got to read the play. You have got to pretend you are actually batting when you are fielding at first slip to the spinners. It's something that doesn't come naturally for some days. He (Kohli) needs to focus a bit more, maybe change a couple of things with his stance and all that and then he won't drop any more catches," Waugh said.
(India Today inputs)
