Team India skipper Virat Kohli who is considered to be one of the best batsmen in the world, has been struggling to get runs in the international arena of late. Kohli has got half-centuries but the three-figure mark has eluded the right-hand batsman for nearly two years.
Former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed talked about the Delhi-based batsman’s struggle in the ongoing Test series against England. Javed termed Kohli a ‘typical Asian player’ who finds it difficult to get going against swing and seam in overseas conditions.
“Kohli is a typical Asian player, he can be successful in Australia. But in places like England and South Africa or anywhere where the ball swings or seams, he’ll chase the ball as he’s vulnerable against the controlled outswing,” Javed told Paktv.tv’s YouTube channel.
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Javed then opined on Joe Root’s technique being better suited for English conditions considering the swing bowlers get in the UK and hence the England captain is the leading run-scorer in this series with 507 runs to his name.
“Joe Root’s air-tight technique in these tough conditions make him safer than Kohli as he knows how to play the ball late. Cricketing ecology plays a very big role in the development of a player. In England, the ball keeps swinging early in the season. Then towards the end, it does tend to spin too. So, players get used to playing it the tough way,” the 49-year-old said.
“Players from the subcontinent ooze flair because they don’t care much about the ball moving around as they hit it through the line. Whereas, players from SENA can play the moving ball well. But once it starts to turn and keep low, they flatten out as well,” Javed concluded.
As far as the five-Test series between India and England is concerned, both teams will be going head-to-head at Kennington Oval in the fourth Test slated to begin from 2 September. With England leveling the series 1-1 at Leeds, it will be interesting to see how the two teams go about in London.
