BGT 2024-25: Virat Kohli battling self-doubt despite giving his all, says Sanjay Manjrekar
Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has pointed out that Virat Kohli's prolonged struggle with deliveries outside the off-stump is now compounded by self-doubt. Kohli, dismissed for the eighth time in nine innings in a similar fashion, edged a delivery outside off on Day 2 of the fifth Test in Sydney, falling victim to Australian seamer Scott Boland yet again.
Boland, who has dismissed Kohli four times in the series, has exploited this recurring weakness. Analysing the dismissal on Star Sports, Manjrekar observed a notable change in Kohli's approach, highlighting that the star batter has gone back to batting deep inside his crease—an uncharacteristic adjustment.
“Many great players have gone through slumps, but rarely to the extent of being undone repeatedly by the same shot. Watching Kohli today, you see something unusual: he’s batting deep inside his crease, a rare sight. Usually, Kohli likes stepping forward and taking the game to the bowlers,” Manjrekar noted.
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He further emphasized that despite Kohli's efforts to counter this weakness, including altering his batting stance and position, the results remain unchanged, leading to visible self-doubt.
“Kohli has tried everything within his control—standing inside the crease being the latest attempt—but the outcome remains the same. It’s disheartening to see a player of his caliber now grappling with self-doubt because of the consistency of these dismissals,” Manjrekar added.
Kohli’s series tally of 190 runs from nine innings at an average of 23.75, including a century in the first Test in Perth, highlights his inconsistency. After a strong start, the former skipper faltered in the subsequent matches, struggling to adapt.
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Meanwhile, at stumps on Day 2, India reached 141/6 in their second innings, leading by 145 runs. Ravindra Jadeja (8*) and Washington Sundar (6*) held the crease, while Rishabh Pant’s blistering knock of 61 off 33 balls was the highlight of the innings. Scott Boland continued to shine for Australia, claiming four wickets.
