Bangladesh Bowlers Expose Virat Kohli’s Struggle Against Spin Once Again
On Thursday, Bangladesh’s bowlers once again highlighted Virat Kohli’s weakness against spin. Despite India’s impressive performance, led by Mohammed Shami’s exceptional bowling and Shubman Gill’s brilliant century, one flaw stood out.
In the first match of the Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium, India secured a convincing six-wicket win against Bangladesh. However, this victory somewhat masked Kohli’s batting struggles. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, ahead of India’s next match against Pakistan on Sunday, pointed out a major weakness in Kohli’s game.
Kohli was dismissed after scoring just 22 runs off 38 balls, including one boundary and 20 dot balls. He particularly struggled against leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, managing only five runs off 11 deliveries before being caught by Soumya Sarkar off Hossain’s bowling.
Kohli’s Form Still a Concern Despite Recent Fifty.
Just last week, Kohli had shown signs of regaining form with a half-century against England in Ahmedabad. This had relieved many fans. However, Thursday’s match against Bangladesh reignited concerns about his vulnerability to spin.
Shubman Gill excels in the ICC competition.
India’s budding star Shubman Gill, meanwhile, is still making waves and has cemented his status as the “Prince of ODIs” with an incredible century.
Manjrekar Questions Kohli’s Ability to Play Big Shots
Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo after the match, Manjrekar analyzed Kohli’s current struggles. He acknowledged that while Kohli still has the fighting spirit, he lacks the ability to dominate bowlers like Rohit Sharma or Shubman Gill.
“He’s in trouble. Virat Kohli’s confidence is clearly low. He still wants to show that he’s ready for the fight, and I feel like there’s a bit of bravery in that. But why not? You can’t hide what’s inside you,” Manjrekar remarked.
He further added, “Rohit Sharma still has that big-game mentality. He steps up, takes on the bowlers, and plays aggressive shots like hitting over extra cover or pulling short balls with confidence. Kohli, on the other hand, doesn’t have that explosiveness anymore. You might occasionally see him go for a big shot, but it doesn’t look natural. Can he play the kind of shots that Shubman Gill does?”