With his four-year stint at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mike Hesson is well acquainted with Virat Kohli. The New Zealand cricket expert analyzes Kohli’s century against Pakistan on the weekend and how it can affect him in other formats, especially in Tests.
What did you make of Virat Kohli’s knock against Pakistan?
Doesn’t Virat keep doing that? He simply reminds us why he averages 58 in ODI cricket whenever people begin to wonder whether it could be, you know, getting close to the end. I suppose last night was just another instance of a brilliant pursuit under duress. Not much less from a talent like Virat is to be expected.
Was there anything he did right that he was not doing earlier?
He simply stuck to his plan of action. He certainly relies heavily on cover drives, and he has faith in that stroke. Sometimes you get out to that shot, and then you begin to question it. His game changed after he made a commitment to the cover drive early on.
Are ODIs the lifeline of Virat Kohli’s batting?
When there were a lot of ODIs being played, he had a rhythm to his batting and he was able to make it work across formats.
Virat has a great understanding of the ODI cricket tempo. He therefore unquestionably finds a rhythm in that structure. He has ample time to get himself in, you know. Typically, the pitches are rather flat. As I mentioned earlier, he is an amazing problem solver. So, he’s always been challenged at number three, no matter what. He is always able to lead his squad to victory. Last night’s chase was comparatively easy, but the occasion put a lot of strain on it. And he led his side to win with ease, as I mentioned.
How do you analyse the pitches in Dubai?
Undoubtedly, they have utilized surfaces that are not as level as some of the ones that are presently on display in Pakistan. The two games you played in Dubai had very different surfaces. Since the ball does turn, spin and pace present challenges to all of the best batsmen. Before this century, Virat’s best score in Dubai was 90, but he only averaged approximately 37. Thus, contrast that with the 58 he averages across his career. Since it’s not his favorite hunting area, he would have been really happy to score the hundred he did, especially in such a significant game.
His two IPL seasons in Dubai were particularly slow
Yes, it was extremely different because there were no fans. A guy like Virat lives off the crowd. The level of competition last night was totally different from the two seasons we played in Dubai, where we used to play in front of zero people. So you know, the fact that Virat could motivate himself in those two seasons was tough. It was tough on everyone, but particularly on a player who feeds off playing in front of sold-out crowds
Edited by Shvetank Maurya
