Shane Warne deciphers the tactics to stop run-machine Virat Kohli

Teams across the globe are finding it extremely tough to get the better of Virat Kohli for quite some time now. No matter whether they are up against the Indian skipper at their home, away or a neutral venue, the latter rarely fails to score big. Australia are currently suffering at the hands of the star batsman. In the ongoing ODI series, Kohli has already scored two centuries in three games and is looking primed to pile more misery on the hosts in the coming days.

In terms of stats, Kohli has left behind not only his contemporaries but also some of the biggest names that have graced the game in the past. At just 30, he is already second in the list of most ODI tons and is looking well on his way to breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 tons. Kohli has also scored over 10,000 ODI runs and the way he is batting at the moment, he can very well shatter Tendulkar’ record of most runs in ODIs too.

Kohli’s numbers in the last two-three years have been even more unbelievable. Since the start of 2016, the India skipper has amassed a staggering 3,985 runs in just 59 ODI innings at a scarcely-believable average of 88.25. The stats make it pretty clear how much Kohli has dominated the opposition in recent years and he is still showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he is getting better and better with every passing day.

Well, Shane Warne, one of the greatest spinners of all time, has now given his views on how teams can tackle the juggernaut called Kohli. The former Australia spinner feels that the teams are making mistake by bowling to Kohli on the stumps. “I think the one thing you need to do with Virat, which is one thing teams don’t do enough of, is take away both sides of the wicket,” Warne was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

He further explained as to why being defensive against Kohli can help the teams. “If you’re going to bowl to Virat Kohli, you either bowl at leg stump and protect the on side, or you bowl wide of off stump and you protect the off side. You cannot bowl at the stumps, because he can hit you both ways. So, I think you’ve to take out one side of the field. Protect just one side of the field, that’s how you bowl to very good players,” said Warne.

How will Warne stop Kohli:

Warne, who ended his illustrious career with over 1,000 international wickets, went on to reveal what his game plan would have been if he were to actually bowl to Virat Kohli. Warne said he would have bowled wide of off stump to Kohli while stationing fielders at attacking positions.

“I’d be bowling wide of off stump and letting him try to cover drive with a slip, short cover and some protection out there. So then it’ll be very hard for him to get it over the leg side. That’s what I’d be trying to do and hopefully get a little bit lucky and he mis-hits one,” he said.

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