Virat Kohli knows Australia will start with line outside off-stump: Sanjay Manjrekar

Australian media welcomed Virat Kohli with a full-page advertisement in newspapers. They have hyped the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and there’s enough buzz in the air concerning Kohli, but the senior India batter is currently struggling to find old mojo. The line outside off-stump has troubled the 36-year-old in the past couple of seasons, and that is one region that the cricketer will have to improve ahead of the first Test of the series, slated to begin on November 22.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Kohli has an idea of what Australian bowlers might plan for him and expects the Delhi-born to practice accordingly. He highlighted that in the last couple of series, Virat left the ball that was pitched outside off and played a drive on a couple of occasions.

“Virat knows exactly what's going to be planned. They'll obviously start with that line outside the off-stump and gauge what his mood is. Generally these days he looks to leave balls outside the off-stump and if they have anything that's pitched right up, he'll look to drive,” said Manjrekar on Star Sports.

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The 59-year-old added that the Australian pacers can target Kohli’s body as well, since he has the tendency to play on the front foot. He highlighted the New Zealand bowlers tried the same formula in the last series. The Mumbai-born also cautioned Kohli to be aware of Josh Hazlewood’s typical inswingers, which can be bothering at times.

“Nowadays, they are also trying to cramp him for room and attack his body because he loves to get forward so much. So that is something New Zealand tried, which is very smart. And then if he is so focused outside off, that typical one of landing a ball on middle stump which Josh Hazlewood would try. So all those methods will be tried by the Australians and Virat Kohli is aware of that,” the cricketer-turned-commentator told further.