Virat Kohli’s aggressive thinking is causing him problems: Irfan Pathan

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been struggling to score runs in the ongoing Test match series against England. So far, he has scored just 124 runs at an average of 24.80 in the five innings. He hit a half-century in the third Test match and that his only fifty in the series so far.

There have been rounds of discussions on Kohli’s form as many experts have put forward their thoughts on the same. The former India cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that rather than any technical issues, the aggressive approach of Kohli has led to his dismaying form lately. Pathan also pointed that the Indian skipper’s domination is the reason behind his underwhelming performance.

“I feel more than the preparation, Virat Kohli looking to dominate is forcing him to play deliveries outside off-stump. It is just that small thing. More than technical, Virat Kohli’s aggressive thinking is causing him problems.” Pathan said during an interaction on Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel.

Virat Kohli has not shown patience: Sanjay Bangar

The England bowlers have constantly targeted the off-stump to get the prized wicket of Kohli. By bowling in tight lengths and displaying immense patience, they have got him to play the deliveries to be caught behind the wickets. The former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar, however, feels that Kohli has lost the battle of patience against the England bowlers.

“The bottom line as far as I am concerned is that Virat Kohli has not shown the patience that England bowlers have shown against him. That was the only difference,” Bangar said.

Bangar also discussed the dismissal of Kohli in the series. He stated that his mode of dismissal is slightly different from what it was in 2014. “He has not got out defending a lot of times. He has gone towards the ball in all his dismissals. If you see his dismissals from 2014, he did not get out playing the drive as many times as he got out defending. I feel he is playing the sixth or seventh stump delivery, which is not required to be played,” Bangar added.