Virat Kohli’s coach Rajkumar Sharma points out one concern for his pupil

Almost all the Indian cricket team fans will have their eyes on skipper Virat Kohli when India will lock horns against New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship. Lately, Virat hasn’t been at his best form with the willow in the purest format of the game. However, if India wants to lift the trophy, then the skipper needs to lead from the front.

Heading into the WTC final, one of the biggest challenges for the Indian skipper will be to face New Zealand’s veteran seamer Tim Southee. It is a secret to none that Virat has struggled a lot against Southee and has failed to deliver any decent performances. The Kiwi pacer has managed to send the Indian skipper back to the pavilion as many as ten times.

Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma acknowledged the weakness of the right-hander while explaining why Virat has struggled against Southee. Rajkumar admitted that it is a point of concern but believes that Virat will work on his technique against Southee.

Elaborating on the reason behind Southee’s success, the coach revealed that the pacer has been bowling really well and his ball swings nicely. “It is not that Virat Kohli doesn’t know where he has made a mistake but despite that Southee has dismissed him ten times, so it is definitely a point of concern and I feel Virat will work on this and leave more balls outside the off-stump,” Rajkumar Sharma said as quoted by Hindustan Times. 

Tim Southee has been seen bowling with a very good strategy: Rajkumar Sharma

“The nagging length which Southee bowls, you need to decide if you have to play or leave the ball. He is bowling very well and his ball is swinging nicely. He becomes unplayable if it is even a slightly helpful wicket,” he added. 

Further, in the interaction, Rajkumar admitted that the struggle of Virat against Tim is not new as the batter has failed to gain any success against the pacer since the U-19 days. The veteran believes that Kohli needs to fight with his urge of playing the cover drive against Southee to protect his wicket.

“This contest has been going on for a long time, from the Under-19 days when they were playing together, Southee for New Zealand and Kohli for India. So, somewhere or the other, Southee has been seen bowling with a very good strategy against Virat.

“Because of that only he has dismissed him ten times. The cover drive is Virat’s favorite shot. So Virat will have to think about showing restraint while playing the cover drive because he has got out in the slips quite a few times while playing that shot,” he signed off.