Virat Kohli is undeniably one of the most accomplished batsmen in the world of cricket. If you dare to highlight a “weakness” or “vulnerability” in his game, be prepared for an intense and passionate response from the public. Just recently, a leading Hindi daily newspaper faced the brunt of this fervor when they published a contentious article about Virat Kohli, reaffirming the immense emotional connection he shares with his fan base.
Shoaib Malik, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, discovered this fact the hard way. During a panel discussion on the show “The Pavilion” on A Sports, Malik delved into the topic of “Kohli vs spin,” examining why the Indian cricket superstar occasionally encounters challenges against spin bowlers. Malik was simply fulfilling his role as an analyst, but the deluge of reactions and relentless trolling that followed took him by surprise.
During a subsequent post-match show, the topic resurfaced with a question that read, “Shoaib Malik, thank you for teaching Virat Kohli how to bat; now please teach acting to Amitabh Bachchan as well.” Malik initially chuckled before addressing the episode.
“Duniya mein na koi batter aaya hai, na hi aayega jo kisi jagah pe phasta na ho. Beshaq woh 1 lakh run bana ley. (There is and hasn’t been a single batter in the world who doesn’t have a weakness, even if he scored 1 lakh runs). You guys didn’t get my point. All I said was that any batter, whose feet move across, faces troubles facing spin. If you want examples, there are so many greats; you can ask anyone,” Malik explained.
“When your feet go across while facing the spinner, the moment the ball comes in, he/she will not find it easy. I didn’t say that he doesn’t know how to play. I said that he gets a little uncomfortable. That’s all. Had you seen the entire show, you would have known that I always praise him. He is one of the greats.”
Shoaib Malik Was Drawing Comparison Between Babar Azam And Virat Kohli’s Approach To Spin Bowling
Malik displayed his expertise in playing spin during the discussion. As one of Pakistan’s finest spin players, he primarily aimed to shed light on why players like Babar Azam and others often struggle against spin, whether it’s facing Kuldeep Yadav or Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmed. While emphasizing the proper approach to facing left-arm spinners and wrist spinners, Malik remained focused. However, his insights into the challenges posed by off-spinners unveiled a deeper understanding of the batting issues faced by both Babar and Kohli.
“If we look at Babar Azam and Virat Kohli both, we can discern that their discomfort when facing off-spinners is the position of their feet. Specifically, when the front leg (left leg) of a right-handed batsman moves in a crosswise direction, off-spinners pose a significant challenge. Both Babar and Virat face this issue,” Malik had said.
“What sets them apart is that Babar’s vulnerability to this situation is limited to facing a select few spinners. In contrast, Virat encounters this challenge with almost every spinner he confronts. Virat, however, alleviates this pressure by frequently resorting to aggressive shot-making. If Babar can incorporate a similar approach and start playing more aggressively, he will be better off.”
Virat Kohli is in top form in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 having scored 442 runs in seven innings with a staggering average of 88.40. He will be in action on his 35th birthday when India faces South Africa at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Fans will be hoping to see Virat Kohli score his 49th ODI century, equalling the record of the great Sachin Tendulkar.
