Saba Karim Opens Up On The Struggles Of Virat Kohli Both On And Off The Field

Dec 23, 2021 at 5:38 PM

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Saba Karim Opens Up On The Struggles Of Virat Kohli Both On And Off The Field

Saba Karim believes Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli’s battles on the field of play are more difficult than the ones the Indian Test skipper is fighting outside the ground. Virat Kohli has endured a prolonged lean run with the bat over the last couple of years.

His problems have been aggravated with his removal as Team India’s ODI skipper and his differences with the BCCI’s top management also coming to the fore. Controversy erupted in Indian cricket earlier this month when Virat Kohli was removed – rather unceremoniously – as the captain in the ODIs after he stepped down as T20I skipper after the 2021 T20I World Cup concluded.

Saba Karim. – The Hindu- File photo of former wicketkeeper 
Saba Karim. – The Hindu- File photo of former wicketkeeper

Saba Karim: The Fight On The Ground Is Most Difficult As Virat Kohli Too Realizes That If He Scores The Big Runs, Players Around Him Will Contribute

During a discussion, Saba Karim was asked if Virat Kohli has a bigger challenge in front of him now than what he faced during Team India’s last trip to South Africa in 2018.

He replied: “The fight on the ground is the most difficult and Virat Kohli knows that as well. He also realizes that in the last one or two years, not only his but even the top order’s form has not been good. The stability or the partnerships required have not been seen.”

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli[photo: Twitter]
The former India wicketkeeper-batter highlighted that Virat Kohli is sweating it out in the nets as he knows the importance of runs flowing from his willow.

Saba Karim elaborated: “He also knows that because he comes in to bat at No. 4, if his bat fires and he scores the big runs, the players around him will also start contributing. And that is why I feel, his preparations should be perfect and he is putting more time in the nets.”

Virat Kohli has been seen having extended net sessions in South Africa. The Indian Test skipper will be desperate to end his long wait for an international century. Since November 2019, the Indian Test skipper hasn’t scored a century in any of the formats.

Virat Kohli will be touring South Africa for the third time in his career, having scored 558 runs in the nation during his last two visits, at 55.80 with two centuries and two fifties. Notably, India hasn’t won a Test series in the rainbow nation in their previous 7 attempts.

Saba Karim Feels The Combination Of Rahul Dravid-Virat Kohli Will Be A Good One

Saba Karim was also asked about the fact that Virat Kohli is spending considerable time with new coach Rahul Dravid in the nets.

He responded: “The advantage with Rahul Dravid is that he can tell Virat how the bowler is targeting him, what the bowler’s thinking is. You observe all that while sitting outside as a coach and then you can tell all that to the player who is in the middle.”

Rahul Dravid is working closely with Virat Kohli [P/C: BCCI/Twitter]
Rahul Dravid is working closely with Virat Kohli [P/C: BCCI/Twitter]

The former India selector concluded by painting a positive picture about the partnership between Virat Kohli and new coach Rahul Dravid.

Saba Karim explained: “With the experience Rahul Dravid has, he knows very well what needs to be said and what is not required to be said. When a player has reached that level, he learns a lot on his own and finds solutions according to himself and Rahul Dravid will step in where the solutions are not found. That is why I feel this combination will be good.”

Rahul Dravid’s vast experience of playing in South African conditions should hold the Indian team in good stead. The former batting great was also the first Indian skipper to win a Test match in the Rainbow Nation.

Virat Kohli has amassed 7801 runs in 97 Tests so far averaging 50.66 but after the 2019 Bangladesh series at home, where he scored his last Test ton, his average didn’t cross 35 in any of the next 6 series. While he averaged only 19.33 in 3 Tests in 2020, he averaged 28.41 in 10 Tests in 2021 and will certainly look to make amends.

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