SPORTSLIBRO CRICKET –INDIA CRICKET NEWS – VIRAT KOHLI NEWS
Indian team after an unbeaten run under Virat Kohli suffered their first major defeat in 2018 against South Africa in Cape Town. It suppose to be the better team won at the end of the after the thrilling first Test, as per India Cricket News.
Former veteran Lance Klusner also put his view about the do’s and don’ts that Virat Kohli should address to gain a positive result in South Africa.
“There is some serious quality in this Indian batting line-up. They have been playing well consistently, that’s why they are ranked No 1 in the world. Yes, the conditions are different over here (in South Africa). But you cannot count them out yet.”
If India wants to do well in the remaining two matches, (Virat) Kohli needs to score runs. He is the best batsman in the side and when he doesn’t score, a native mindset is created in the team. Others may feel when the best player in the team is not good enough to score runs, then how can they survive in these conditions. So, I hope the captain will lead from the from the front in the next match and set up the series for an exciting finish. Let me tell you, he is well capable of doing that.”
When Klusener asked on which area Virat Kohli should improve, he said “First and foremost, as a visiting batting unit if you want to do well in South Africa, you need to have proper planning against short-pitch bowling. You cannot go half-hearted. Either you have to leave (the short ball) well or you have to play the hook and pull shots. Once you show that you’re assured against the short stuff, then bowlers will be forced to pitch the ball on your half and that will create scoring opportunities.”
Furthermore, he also recommended that the Indian batsmen need to show ‘controlled aggression’ rather than just looking at survival in such conditions.
“On these wickets, as a batsman, you are never settled. You don’t know when a ball will get you out. So, you always have to look for scoring opportunities like Hardik Pandya showed in the first innings. Though in the end, his knock (95-ball 93) hasn’t turned out to be a match-winning one, it certainly brought India back in the reckoning from nowhere. I feel controlled aggression is the way forward here (for a batsman).”
The south African legend Lance Klusner was highly impressed with Hardik Pandya and wishes his a long career in not just in limited format but also in Tests for India. “India have been looking for a seam-bowling all-rounder for quite a while now. And in Pandya, they have found a world-class option. His all-round skill allows the captain to explore a lot of options, especially in the conditions we have in South Africa” concluded Klusner.