As the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) gear up to take on the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 13th match of the ongoing IPL 2022 on Tuesday (April 5), former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shared a few crucial suggestions for Virat Kohli.
Kohli has been struggling to score runs against spinners in the IPL, Rajasthan Royals (RR) will certainly attack the dashing right-hander with their spin twins, Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin on Tuesday at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Notably, Kohli hit 41* off just 29 balls in the RCB’s first IPL 15 match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), as he was looking proactive against the spinners. He used his feet well and hit 2 sixes, but he got out for just 12 in their second match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Well, Chahal was part of the RCB till the last season, and given that on Tuesday, the battle between Kohli and the leg-spinner will be interesting for the fans at Wankhede Stadium.
Ahead of the RCB v RR battle, Shastri suggested Kohli play his natural game and look busy against Ashwin and Chahal. He also urged Kohli to play the conventional sweep against spinners to make sure that they don't settle into a rhythm against him in the IPL 2022.
Shastri told ESPNCricinfo: “I think he should just play his game. I think he played very well in the first game, I liked the way he played. He used his feet, looked busy, and was prepared to rock back well.”
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The former captain further explained, “What you want from Virat is to look busy. If you can't hit the big ones, make sure you are rotating the strike and making the bowlers think. He will play his natural game."It's a good contest. These 2 are very good spinners. He has to use the paddle sweep against these two. That's a part of the game he has to work on.”
He concluded, “Opposition teams know that when he comes to bat, he doesn't sweep (against the spinners). When you know that, the field placements can be done precisely. Once you start sweeping, I don't care who the spinner is, you're making him play.”
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
