Table of Contents
Virat Kohli, renowned for his exceptional batting prowess, has faced notable challenges against spin bowlers recently. Despite his overall success, spinners have often exploited weaknesses in his technique and approach, leading to significant struggles in various formats of the game.
Technical vulnerabilities
Kohli’s issues against spin bowlers primarily stem from technical shortcomings. His backfoot play, which is generally solid against fast bowlers, becomes less effective when confronting spinners. Kohli tends to use a forward stride to counter spin, but his balance often shifts towards the leg side, making him susceptible to deliveries that turn sharply or bounce unexpectedly. This imbalance can lead to mistimed shots or defensive strokes that fail to meet the ball cleanly.
Approach and adaptability
In the past, Kohli adeptly alleviated pressure by skillfully rotating the strike through singles and doubles. This ability to find gaps and keep the scoreboard ticking was a hallmark of his batting, ensuring he maintained a healthy strike rate. However, in recent times, he has struggled to replicate this approach. The presence of close-in fielders and strategic field placements have disrupted his rhythm, making it challenging for him to find gaps. As a result, Kohli has been forced to play more dot balls, which not only builds pressure but also significantly lowers his strike rate. This shift has made it more difficult for him to dominate bowlers as effectively as he once did.
Notable instances
Kohli’s struggles against spin have been highlighted in several high-profile matches. For example, Kohli was dismissed multiple times by spinners, including the likes of Moeen Ali and Nathan Lyon, whose off-breaks exploited Kohli’s tendency to play across the line. Similarly, in the ODI World Cup 2023, Kohli found it challenging to score freely against spinners in the middle overs, leading to slower run rates and increased pressure on the batting side.
Also READ: 3 possible reasons behind Team India’s ODI series loss against Sri Lanka
Psychological impact
The psychological aspect of facing spin bowlers also plays a role in Kohli’s struggles. The pressure to perform in crucial situations, combined with the mental game of reading variations, can impact Kohli’s decision-making. Spinners who vary their pace and flight effectively can force Kohli into making errors, as he tries to adjust his game to counter the different deliveries.
Virat Kohli’s record against spinners (2008 to 2024):
Test Cricket:
1. Left-arm Chinaman:
- 2008-2024: 108 runs from 133 balls, average 54.0, strike rate 81.2.
2. Left-arm Orthodox:
- 2008-2024: 1,155 runs from 2,233 balls, average 67.94, strike rate 51.72.
- Since 2020: 272 runs from 686 balls, average 34.00, strike rate 39.65.
3. Right-arm Offbreak:
- 2008-2024: 1,849 runs from 3,241 balls, average 48.65, strike rate 57.05.
- Since 2020: 390 runs from 787 balls, average 35.45, strike rate 49.55.
4. Right-arm Legbreak:
- 2008-2024: 713 runs from 1,097 balls, average 89.1, strike rate 65.0.
- Since 2020: 62 runs from 97 balls, average 20.7, strike rate 63.9.
One Day Internationals (ODIs):
1. Left-arm Chinaman:
- 2008-2024: 68 runs from 70 balls, average 68.0, strike rate 97.1.
- Since 2020: 36 runs from 44 balls, average 36.0, strike rate 81.8.
2. Left-arm Orthodox:
- 2008-2024: 1,583 runs from 1,785 balls, average 65.95, strike rate 88.68.
- Since 2020: 345 runs from 458 balls, average 31.36, strike rate 75.32.
3. Right-arm Offbreak:
- 2008-2024: 2,104 runs from 2,343 balls, average 72.6, strike rate 89.8.
- Since 2020: 278 runs from 314 balls, average 44.83, strike rate 94.23.
4. Right-arm Legbreak:
- 2008-2024: 1,332 runs in 81 innings, average 70.1, strike rate 102.9.
- Since 2020: 334 runs from 349 balls, average 55.66, strike rate 95.7.
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is):
1. Left-arm Chinaman:
- 2008-2024: 65 runs from 52 balls, average 32.5, strike rate 125.0.
- Since 2020: 19 runs from 16 balls, average infinite (not dismissed), strike rate 118.75.
2. Left-arm Orthodox:
- 2008-2024: 437 runs from 363 balls, average 72.83, strike rate 119.6.
- Since 2020: 162 runs from 138 balls, average 54.0, strike rate 117.39.
3. Right-arm Offbreak:
- 2008-2024: 415 runs from 342 balls, average 83.0, strike rate 120.38.
- Since 2020: 117 runs from 101 balls, average 117.0, strike rate 115.84.
4. Right-arm Leg break:
- 2008-2024: 538 runs from 421 balls, average 44.83, strike rate 128.4.
- Since 2020: 222 runs from 194 balls, average 37.0, strike rate 114.43.
Analysis of Virat Kohli’s Performance against spinners since 2020:
Test Cricket:
- Left-arm Chinaman: Haven’t faced a chinaman bowler in the longest format
- Left-arm Orthodox: There’s a noticeable drop in performance with an average decreasing from 67.94 to 34.00 and a lower strike rate from 51.72 to 39.65.
- Right-arm Offbreak: His average has slightly improved, indicating some resilience, though still lower than his overall career average.
- Right-arm Legbreak: Kohli has experienced a substantial drop in average and strike rate, showing struggles against this type of bowling.
ODIs:
- Left-arm Chinaman: Slight decrease in average and strike rate.
- Left-arm Orthodox: Decline in both average and strike rate.
- Right-arm Offbreak: Improvement in average, maintaining a strong record.
- Right-arm Legbreak: Improved performance, especially in strike rate.
T20Is:
- Left-arm Chinaman: Improved performance with higher strike rate.
- Left-arm Orthodox: Slightly lower average but strong overall.
- Right-arm Offbreak: Maintained an excellent record.
- Right-arm Legbreak: Decreased average, but strike rate remains solid.
Summary:
- Struggles: Kohli has shown a decline against left-arm spinners, especially since 2020. His performance against right-arm leg spinners has also seen a drop in average.
- Strengths: Despite struggles, Kohli has maintained or even improved his record against right-arm offbreak spinners, particularly in ODIs and T20Is, where his average and strike rate have remained strong or improved.
Adaptation and improvement
Despite these challenges, Kohli has shown resilience and the ability to adapt. Over time, he has worked on his technique and approach to become more effective against spinners. His increased focus on playing close to the body and also introduced slow-sweep in his armory and improving his footwork has helped him mitigate some of the issues. Kohli’s ability to learn from his experiences and make adjustments is a testament to his skill and determination.
In conclusion, while Kohli’s struggles against spin bowlers are well-documented, they reflect the challenges that even the best batters face in adapting to different types of bowlers. Kohli’s continued efforts to improve his game against spin highlight his commitment to overcoming these obstacles and maintaining his status as one of the premier batter in world cricket.
