Cricket News: Virat Kohli should follow Sachin Tendulkar batting strategy

Currently, being in the eye of the storm, the diminishing status of Virat Kohli is visible across all formats. Once a World number 1 has fallen in all the ICC rankings and, for the first time in his career, is being dropped from the upcoming tour of West Indies. Despite spending hours in practice and being backed by team management, let's look into what might be going wrong with the star player.

Analysis 

Virat Kohli's strength has always been his ability to allow the ball to come closer to his body and then slam shots. However, nowadays, the batter has been getting out jabbing the good length balls on or outside the fifth stump. In most of the matches, the bowlers have similarly set him, allowing him a few front foot shots, then shortening the length to get him trapped in an outside edge to be caught behind the stumps or at slip. His instincts and inability to leave these balls have added to his poor form. This weakness is exploited by opposition bowlers in England, India, South Africa and other nations. Apart from international cricket, he looked to struggle similarly in IPL. He must leave these balls or play on the good drive, judging them well. 

"I said the only man who can relate to what Virat Kohli is going through is Tendulkar. Because who else, since starting at age 14 or 15, never had a bad patch? Only moved forward, and reached the heights Tendulkar had reached?" said Ajay Jadeja  

What's happening with Virat Kohli now has occurred with the god of Indian cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. In the latter's phase, he too was fishing outside off stump with a clear field in front of them. This tempting instinct of the batter gives an easy edge, giving an easy send-off to the pavilion. When this phase came for the master blaster, in the Test series against Australia in 2004, the batter didn't play a single cover drive or a shot on full outside off stump. His determination to leave all such balls forced bowlers to bowl in his arc, in which he smashed 33 boundaries to last 611 minutes on the field and accumulate unbeaten 241 runs. 

A similar determination needs to be displayed by Virat Kohli and force bowlers to bowl in his comfort arc so that he can score runs and regain his form. But despite his lean patch continuing for almost three years, Virat Kohli has gained massive support from all the former cricketers. 

England cricketer Kevin Petersen shared a priceless post by writing, "Buddy, your career has had some of the best that have played the game only wish they could have done what you have(so far). Be proud, walk tall & enjoy life. There's way more than just the bubble of cricket out there. You'll be back, @virat.kohli".

"This too shall pass. Stay Strong," tweeted Pakistan's skipper Babar Aazam.

While the whole cricket fraternity and fans are awaiting his 71st century, he is now rested for the entire limited-overs tour of the West Indies. In his comeback, Virat Kohli is expected to replicate Sachin Tendulkar's comeback knock to regain his form and score good runs. 

Ben Stokes' response to Virat Kohli's message following his ODI retirement: "I Love Virat"

Stokes has played 104 one-day internationals for England so far, amassing 2919 runs, including three centuries and 21 half-centuries, and picking up 74 wickets. After hearing Kohli's compliment, he responded.

"I love Virat. He is going to go down as one of the greatest ever players to play the game in all three formats. He is a phenomenal player and I absolutely love that I have played against someone like him. The energy and the commitment that he gives to the game is something that I have admired even before I started playing against him. When you play guys like that, you understand what it means not just to yourself but everybody else what it means to play the game at the top level," Stokes said on Sky Sports.

"I loved every single time I have played against him. I am sure we will have some more battles On the field."

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