Ex-India cricketer's bold statement on Virat Kohli's weakness against spin, says '...you'll need to upgrade yourself'

Former Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha believes that Virat Kohli will need to adapt his batting approach to counter the threat of left-arm spin bowling ahead of the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Kohli's recent record against left-arm spinners has been a cause for concern.

Pragyan Ojha backs Virat Kohli to overcome left-arm spin challenge

Since 2020, Kohli has struggled to score consistently against left-arm spin, averaging just 30.2 in 25 Test innings. This is a stark contrast to his previous record, where he averaged an impressive 110.7 against left-arm spinners, scoring 775 runs in 53 Test innings. Bangladesh boasts two talented left-arm spinners, Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam. Given Kohli's vulnerability to this type of bowling, Bangladesh is expected to devise strategies to exploit his weakness.

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Pragyan Ojha addressed Virat Kohli's perceived weakness against left-arm spin bowling in an interview with InsideSport. However, Ojha expressed confidence in Kohli's ability to overcome this challenge, citing his extensive experience at the international level. Ojha believes that Kohli can adapt his game and make the necessary adjustments to neutralize the threat posed by left-arm spinners.

“When you talk about players like Virat Kohli, they’ve played more than a decade of international cricket. There will be a time when there are different challenges, and you’ll need to upgrade yourself. Legends of the game always evolve, and I expect him to evolve,” Ojha said.

Pragyan Ojha praises Virat Kohli's work ethics

Pragyan Ojha highlighted that Virat Kohli has set such high standards for himself that even a half-century can feel like a disappointment. He commended Kohli's unwavering work ethic and expressed confidence that it is only a matter of time before he overcomes his current challenges, including his struggles against left-arm spin bowling.

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"Greats have had their challenges and overcame them. I’m very sure Virat will always do that; it’s just a matter of time. Virat has set the benchmark so high that even a 50 or 60 looks like a failure for him. That’s just how he’s contributed to the Indian team. It’s just a phase; the way he trains and his work ethic—it’s just a matter of time (before he comes good)," the former India left-arm spinner added.

Virat Kohli faced a difficult period between 2020 and 2022, characterized by a prolonged drought without scoring an international century. He finally broke this drought with a century against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2022, which also marked his only T20I hundred. Following India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, Kohli made the decision to retire from the T20I format. After the upcoming series against Bangladesh, Kohli will face another significant challenge in the form of a three-match Test series against New Zealand at home. However, the most demanding test will come in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where India will tour Australia for a five-match Test series.

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