 "This player made plan B for Virat Kohli, can take lessons from Steve Smith… – News-Patiala Punjabi")
Virat Kohli is called King by his fans but in 2024 he is struggling badly. Barring Perth’s century, they have crossed the 50-run mark only once. In such a situation, cricket experts are advising Kohli to change his batting strategy and style. Especially against the new ball, which they try to play shots on. Kohli also takes lessons from his Fab-4 teammate Steve Smith in this regard.
Virat Kohli (Virat Kohli) has been caught 4 times by a slip fielder or a wicketkeeper in the last 5 innings against Australia. This is not the only similarity. The balls on which Kohli was dismissed were pitched slightly before a good length spot and reached Kohli with good bounce.
Cheteshwar Pujara says that Kohli could have left these balls but he tried to drive. This is also not a new thing. Kohli is scoring a lot of runs with this shot. But there is more bounce on Australian pitches. So he should avoid playing this shot at least on this tour. Especially when the ball is new. When the ball gets old, Kohli will score a lot of runs by playing this shot.
Virat Kohli can also take a lesson from Steve Smith’s Brisbane innings in this regard. Before this century, Smith had scored only 232 runs in 13 innings of 7 Test matches in 2024. Before scoring a century in Brisbane, he could only cross the 40-run mark once this year. Anyone who has seen Steve Smith play in the Brisbane Test knows that in this match he kept his distance from the new ball as if he were a snake. Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and Mohammad Siraj bowled well with the new ball, but Smith continued to give them respect. He played his balls only when they were around the stumps. He let the rest of the balls into Rishabh Pant’s gloves.
Steve Smith played 34 balls to score 10 runs in the Brisbane Test. He crossed the 20-run mark on the 50th ball. He faced 128 balls to reach his half-century and completed his century in 185 balls. That means he played 57 balls to reach 50 to 100 runs.
Let the kookaburra ball grow old…
It is clear from Steve Smith’s batting that if you do not tamper with the new ball. Give him respect and let him go to the wicketkeeper. Initially focus on spending time at the crease and not scoring runs. Cheteshwar Pujara says that Kookaburra’s ball stops swinging after 40 overs. This is the time when Virat can score runs at will. Virat should wait for this time.
Lesson Advice from Steve Smith….
Harbhajan Singh advised to take lessons from Steve Smith. He said that in this match we saw how Steve Smith released new balls. He continued to drop the ball until he was old. The Indian batsmen will have to do the same. When you release the ball, you force the bowler to change his plan. First the bowler tries to get you out. When you don’t fall into his trap, he throws the ball near you. This is the chance you can score runs.