Virat Kohli's Struggles With New Ball During Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Virat Kohli's struggles with the new ball on Australia's pitches have become a significant talking point during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With only 126 runs across five innings, of which 100 came from a single performance, Kohli's technique against the fresh, swinging ball has been under scrutiny.

His former teammate and Indian cricketer, Cheteshwar Pujara, highlighted this issue, suggesting that Kohli's batting style might not be well-suited for facing the new ball early in his innings. According to Pujara, the ideal situation for Kohli would be to bat once the ball has aged a bit, minimizing the advantage bowlers have with a new ball.

Pujara, speaking on Star Sports, pointed out that the lack of time spent at the crease by India's top order has often left Kohli exposed to the new ball, which has not worked in his favour.

"He has been forced to play the new ball. He has gotten out whenever he has played the new ball. When he played the old ball, he scored a hundred in Perth. So that's also a very big point," Pujara explained. This observation underscores the tactical nuances that can affect even the most accomplished batsmen's performance.

Kohli's batting average this year has fallen to 25.06 after 17 innings, marking an eight-year low and pulling his career average down to 47.40. Such a dip is alarming for a player of Kohli's calibre, known for his dominance across formats.

Australian bowlers have exploited this vulnerability by consistently bowling outside off-stump, enticing Kohli into playing risky shots that often result in his dismissal. This pattern has raised questions about whether Kohli's technical approach needs adjustment.

Pujara believes that Kohli's main battle is mental. He stated, "In the match, for some reason, he wants to leave the ball but is unable to, and the bat is going there. So he will have to stop himself. He will have to change his mindset. There is a technical part that you are playing a delivery outside off-stump.

"However, if you have to leave the same delivery, it's not a very big technical adjustment but he needs to make a bigger mental adjustment." This advice from Pujara suggests that Kohli's issues might be more about decision-making and discipline than technical flaws.

Despite the recent struggles, Kohli's record in Australia previously has been impressive, making his current form even more puzzling. The challenge now lies in how he adapts to these conditions and whether he can make the necessary adjustments to reclaim his prowess at dealing with the new ball. Kohli's journey in the ongoing series reflects the continual adjustments and mental resilience required at the highest level of cricket.