IPL 2022: Ian Bishop expresses concern at Virat Kohli's dismissal to different types of bowlers

Virat Kohli got out to Moeen Ali in the game against CSK.

Virat Kohli | BCCI/IPLVeteran RCB batter Virat Kohli’s poor show continued in the ongoing IPL as he scored 30 off 33 balls in the clash against CSK at MCA Stadium, Pune on Wednesday (May 4).

During the 10th over of RCB’s innings, Moeen Ali cleaned up Kohli with a beauty. It was a classical off-spinner's dismissal as the CSK all-rounder lured Kohli into a flick but the former RCB skipper played too far across the line and the ball sneaked through to knock the leg stump.

See Also: "A legend will always be a legend", Protea women's cricket great supports struggling Virat Kohli

After the game, former West Indies cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Bishop expressed his concern about Kohli's struggles against spin, especially off-spin.

"For a while, for 10 or 15 runs, he wasn't even going at a run-a-ball, or he was just going at a run-a-ball," Bishop said on ESPNcricinfo's 'T20 Time Out'.

"He didn't get ahead, and there wasn't much intent. He hit one (six) over extra-cover off the seamer, and that was when he just went ahead to a run-a-ball and then he came back.

"This is something we've been seeing with Virat, not just this season. Even last season, I remember, and even sometimes internationally, he'll fly out - he didn't fly out tonight - and then he'll slow down again. So, I'm concerned."

In total, Virat Kohli played out 16 dot balls against the Chennai Super Kings.

"If you're not getting ahead of the rate and going at a run-a-ball, you need to bat deep into the innings," he said.

"And he isn't going deep into the innings either. So those deliveries don't come back to you. Even if RCB won, that wasn't an innings, even given the difficulties of the pitch, that you could say caused a match-winning total."

Pointing out Kohli's struggles against spinners, Bishop further said: "Roston Chase got him out in the West Indies series (at home in February), we saw him getting out to the off-spinner in Test matches. So, I'm concerned about ... and I'm a Kohli fan.

"I tune in to watch cricket when Kohli's at his best, so it isn't criticism but an observation that I am concerned that a number of types of bowlers are getting him out and he's not getting ahead of the rate."

In the IPL 2022 so far, Virat Kohli has played 11 innings and managed to amass only 216 runs at an average of 21.60 with only one half-century (58). He has recorded two golden ducks as well while his strike rate of 111.91 isn’t impressive either.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 05 May, 2022

    Share Via