'This strategy causes more trouble. He's worried about LBW': RCB star left 'surprised' by Kohli's approach against spin

Virat Kohli was dismissed LBW in both the innings of the pink-ball Test in Bengaluru.

The follies have been called out. In 11 of his last dismissals at home since 2020, India's former captain, Virat Kohli, has been dismissed by spinners nine times. Four of them were leg-before wicket (LBW), two which happened in the pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. While few have remain unfazed over Kohli's approach, backing the modern-era great to return to scoring ways, his new Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate has been left “surprised” by his strategy against spin.

Indian batter Virat Kohli plays a shot as Sri Lanka fielder attempts for a catch during the first day of 2nd test match between India and Sri Lanka, at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Saturday (PTI)

Speaking to Cricbuzz after end of Day 2's play at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik pointed out the position where Kohli has been seen batting at the crease during the last two innings. As opposed to his previous approach of standing at middle or middle-and-leg, Kohli has been standing tad outside the leg stump and Karthik feels that although the 33-year-old has applied the strategy to avoid getting LBW, it has caused him more trouble.

“I'm pretty surprised as to where he is standing in the crease. He is standing touch outside leg stump. And that you do when you are little worried about LBW. But that in many ways actually causes you more trouble the moment you stand outside leg stump because almost all balls you need to meet across. But when you stand in middle or between middle and leg stump, there is a good chance that the balls that are drifting into you say the middle stump then you end up playing a lot straighter,” he explained.

“The moment you stand outside leg stump, everything you do tend to go across and so the one that comes in has the potential to get you lbw. So that is one thing that I have been very surprised with the strategy he has used to play spin,” he added.

Karthik admitted that while in the first innings, Kohli was undone by the low bounce off the Chinnaswamy track, he was at fault in the second innings.

“Kohli over the years has consistently stood at middle or between middle and leg and that allows him to play with softer hands. And this mindset has come obviously because players who do not want to get lbw do that. And he wants to avoid that. Interestingly, in both the innings he got out lbw. Yes the ball kept a little low in the first innings but in the second innings I guess it was a touch and was a kind of delivery you play on it. The place Kohli stood on the crease is a hard place to bat on especially on these kind of tracks,” he added.

Kohli ended his Sri Lanka Test series scoring just 81 runs in three innings at an average of just 27. The poor return saw Kohli's career batting average drop below 50 for the first time since 2017.