Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has expressed concern regarding Virat Kohli's repeated dismissals to similar types of bowlers in One Day Internationals (ODIs). This observation followed Kohli's dismissal by left-arm spinner Rishad Hossain during India's opening match against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy held in Dubai on Thursday.

This incident marked the sixth consecutive occasion on which Kohli has been dismissed by spin in the 50-over format, with five of those dismissals occurring against left-arm spinners.

In the recent ODI series against England, Kohli struggled significantly against Adil Rashid, raising questions about his technique once again. In the match against Bangladesh, he scored 22 runs before being dismissed by Rishad Hossain.

Gavaskar noted, "A significant factor is that the bat face tends to open up. This issue also arises when he faces fast bowlers in Australia. When he attempts to play through the covers, the bat's face opens, which leads to difficulties. This is something he must be cautious about, as evidenced by his recent dismissal." He further elaborated, "On a couple of occasions prior to his dismissal, Kohli reached for Rishad's delivery, which turned, causing the bat face to open. Fortunately, there was no edge on that occasion. He needs to tighten this aspect of his game. If he continues to be dismissed by similar bowling, it certainly raises some concerns."

‘More pressure on Pakistan’

The former captain of India believes that Pakistan will face increased pressure in their upcoming match against India, particularly following their recent defeat to New Zealand.

Pakistan suffered a 60-run loss in their opening match of the tournament against New Zealand, placing them in a challenging position as they strive to secure a spot in the semifinals.

"In cricket, the outcome can be unpredictable. A single player can turn the game around, whether through batting or bowling. Pakistan has a history of having exceptional players who can deliver outstanding performances, whether it be a remarkable innings or an extraordinary bowling display," Gavaskar remarked.

"Thus, it is challenging to definitively state that India is the clear favourite. However, when considering the overall strength of the Indian team, including their batting depth and the variety at the top order, one cannot overlook players like Rohit Sharma, who can aggressively attack from the very first ball," he continued.

India is set to face Pakistan in a Group A match on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.

"Given their loss to New Zealand, Pakistan will undoubtedly be under greater pressure in their match against India. Nevertheless, the Champions Trophy is the one tournament where they have historically performed well against India, unlike in the World Cups or T20 World Cups. This may serve as a source of motivation for them to regain their confidence," Gavaskar concluded.

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