AUS vs IND 2024-25: Harbhajan Singh explains technical adjustments being made by Virat Kohli ahead of Brisbane Test

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh noted that the legendary Virat Kohli is working on his back-foot game in the lead-up to the third Test between India and Australia at the iconic Gabba in Brisbane, starting on Saturday, December 14.

The Gabba is famous for producing one of the fastest pitches in Australia and the batters also have to contend with the extra bounce on offer for the speedsters. Having a solid back-foot technique is essential for the batters to succeed at the historic venue. Kohli is well aware of the challenges ahead as he is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to come out all guns blazing in the River City.

Harbhajan, who has spent several years playing alongside Kohli, said that the former India captain is a front-foot batter. However, he asserted that Kohli is making critical changes to improve his back-foot game, which will in turn help him to counter the bounce at the Gabba.

"Yes, whatever little I have seen him batting in the nets today. I have played a lot of cricket with him. He is a front-foot player. Knowing the bounce on Indian soil, you have to be on your front foot. The people who have played here, the likes of Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Langer, Hayden. They were good back foot players, because of the bounce. It is the kind of bounce you get in Australia, you have to be good player of bounce. You need to have a good backfoot game. That's what he was practising," Harbhajan told Star Sports.

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We have seen him making a comeback after every setback: Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan said that he is hoping for a strong turnaround from Kohli after the 36-year-old registered scores of seven and 11 in the second Test in Adelaide, which India lost by 10 wickets.

"Specifically I have noticed today. He was playing a lot of deliveries on the backfoot. He was going forward for the fuller ball but those balls which were slightly shorter than the length of full ball, he was either leaving or trying to play them. The ball from the back foot, he knows that Gabba will be a different wicket where he will get to face a lot of bounce and pace and that back foot game needs to be included in his game. Good to see him working on the game. I am sure, knowing Virat Kohli, we have seen him making a comeback after every setback," Harbhajan stated.

Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 off 143 balls in the second innings of the first Test in Perth. However, he has only aggregated 23 runs in the three other innings he has played on this tour.