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India's batting maestro Virat Kohli is going through a form slump in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Barring the Perth Test century, Kohli's batting has looked rusty, getting dismissed in the same fashion again and again, chasing balls outside off stump and helplessly nicking it. However, he decided to go back to the drawing board to come out of his batting struggle in the ongoing Test series against Australia. On Day 4 of the India versus Australia's third Test at the Gabba, former India captain was reportedly spotted practicing in the nets, focusing on rectifying his struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump. With the sun briefly emerging, Kohli seized the opportunity to face quality bowling in the nets after a disappointing first innings performance, which saw him getting dismissed for a lowly 3 runs.
Virat Kohli hits nets during IND vs AUS 3rd Test
According to a report in The Times of India, Kohli faced pacers Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, spinner Washington Sundar, and throwdown specialists in the nets when Team India was trying to avoid the follow-on on Day 4 of the Gabba Test. He rotated between different nets, working on various aspects of his batting and aiming to address the issues that have hindered his performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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Kohli was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood in the first innings, falling victim to a wide delivery outside the off-stump, a pattern which he has been getting out again and again. Determined to work on this weakness, he returned to the nets on Tuesday, December 17 morning to face quality bowling from young pacers Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, as well as spinner Washington Sundar.
According to The Times of India, bowling coach Morne Morkel and fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate were also present during the session. Kohli practiced with Devdutt Padikkal in the side nets, focusing on driving the ball and also exercising restraint by leaving deliveries on a good length. Kohli engaged in detailed discussions with the throwdown specialist and bowlers after every mishit, analyzing the delivery and his response.
India avoid follow-on on Day 4
Talking about the match, Day 4 of the third Test was again halted due to bad light, forcing players off the field. India rode on unbeaten 39-run partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep to comprehensively avoid the follow-on. At the close of play, India were 252/9, trailing Australia by 193 runs. India's innings got off to a patchy start with Rohit Sharma departing early for 10 runs. However, KL Rahul yet again turned India's saviour as he anchored the innings with a fluent 84. Ravindra Jadeja, was no less as he scored a well-crafted 77. Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed with a quickfire 16 runs, but it was the lower order, particularly Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, who stole the show.
