Ahead of India’s clash with Pakistan, Sunil Gavaskar mentioned that he believes Virat Kohli’s recurring dismissals due to an open-faced bat is a matter of concern as India goal to regain the Champions Trophy after 12 years.
The 36-year-old Kohli, who had a robust tour of Australia the place he was repeatedly dismissed by quick bowlers within the off-side hall, was dismissed for 22 in India’s opening match of the Champions Trophy towards Bangladesh on Thursday (February 20, 2025).
This marks the sixth consecutive time Kohli has been dismissed by spin in ODIs, as he had struggled towards England’s leg-spinner Adil Rashid too within the current residence sequence.
“It is to a great extent due to the fact that the bat face opens up, the same thing happens when he’s playing against the quicks in Australia,” Gavaskar told India Today.
“The bat face is opening up, looking to play through the covers, opening the face of the bat, that gets him into trouble. So that is something that he’s got to watch out for.”
Kohli was dismissed by wrist-spinner Rishad Hossain while trying to cut the ball, only to be caught by Soumya Sarkar at backward point.
“A couple of times before he got out, he reached for Rishad, the ball turned, the bat face opened, and luckily the bat face opened, and so there was no nick. So that is something that he’ll have to tighten up on now,” Gavaskar said.
“But yes, I guess if you’re getting out to the same kind of bowling, then you know, there is a bit of concern,” he added.
Kohli, who scored 765 runs in 11 matches through the 2023 ODI World Cup, has struggled to replicate that kind this yr, managing solely 137 runs in six innings at a mean of 22.83, with only one half-century.
In Tests since 2024, he has scored solely 440 runs in 11 matches.
India will face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai within the Champions Trophy.
Published – February 22, 2025 01:04 pm IST
