In an otherwise commendable performance by India, where the bowlers, spearheaded by Mohammed Shami, excelled and Shubman Gill contributed with a century, there was a notable setback. India's decisive six-wicket victory at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday in their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh somewhat overshadowed Virat Kohli's batting struggles. However, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted a critical weakness that needs addressing before the upcoming match against Pakistan on Sunday.

Many breathed a sigh of relief as Kohli appeared to regain his form in the recent home series against England, scoring a half-century in Ahmedabad last week. Yet, on Thursday, his susceptibility to spin was once again exposed by the Bangladeshi bowlers. Kohli managed only 22 runs off 38 balls, which included just one boundary and an alarming 20 dot balls. He particularly struggled against leg-spinner Rashid Hossain, scoring a mere five runs off 11 balls before being dismissed.

In an interview with ESPNCricinfo following the match, Manjrekar noted that while Kohli is demonstrating a desire to compete, he lacks the impactful performance seen from players like Rohit Sharma or Gill.

Manjrekar remarked that Virat Kohli is currently in a challenging situation, as his confidence appears to be notably diminished. Kohli is keen to demonstrate that he remains competitive, yet there seems to be an element of bravado in his demeanour, which is understandable given the circumstances; one cannot fully disclose their internal struggles. In contrast, Rohit Sharma consistently performs well in critical situations, exhibiting the ability to confidently play shots over extra cover or execute aggressive pulls, demonstrating a willingness to take risks. Conversely, Kohli appears to have lost that capability. Although he occasionally attempts ambitious shots, he struggles to do so consistently. The question remains whether he can execute a shot similar to that of Shubman Gill.

When it was pointed out that a shift in approach during IPL 2024 contributed to Kohli's selection for the T20 World Cup amidst discussions regarding his batting intent, Manjrekar elaborated that Kohli has not been able to build on his form following his century in Perth during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener, resulting in a lack of confidence to play big shots.

He noted that after the century in Australia, had Kohli maintained that form, it would have positively impacted his confidence. When a player is out of form and lacking confidence, they often struggle to generate the power and courage necessary to hit significant shots. Manjrekar observed that Kohli's performance, including a fifty against England in the one-day series, provided insight into his current batting struggles. He recalled Kohli's impressive performance in South Africa, noting that his century in Australia came after India had already amassed 300 runs. At this point, he perceives Kohli as lacking confidence, with his batting technique not aligning with his needs.

He also reflected on a statement made years ago regarding ageing and diminishing luck, expressing sympathy for Kohli's situation. He questioned what kind of pitch conditions Kohli would face in the upcoming matches, suggesting that he would likely encounter slow-turning surfaces that would not favour his batting style, further complicating his challenges.

'Kohli needed the flat pitches in Pakistan'

Manjrekar speculated that Kohli's challenges in Dubai may persist due to the venue's tendency to favour spinners, suggesting that the flatter pitches in Pakistan would have been more advantageous for the former Indian captain.

"He is seeking a method to accelerate his innings. When he arrives at the crease, the spinners are introduced. Once the spinners realize that he is not likely to hit them for three consecutive sixes down the pitch or over midwicket, they gain an advantage. Rohit can still achieve that, as can KL Rahul and Gill. Thus, Kohli finds himself in a difficult position. What he required in this tournament were the flat pitches similar to those in Pakistan, which would provide more pace. Under those conditions, his performance could have improved, but now the situation is challenging. If he manages to navigate through this and we witness another peak performance from Virat Kohli, it would reveal much about his character and resilience," he remarked.

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