Virat Kohli’s remarkable cricket career has not only established him as a run-scoring machine and a modern-era legend but also highlighted his ability to thrive in challenging and hostile situations, particularly when faced with opposition trying to get under his skin. This resilience has set him apart from other top players. Australian teams, in particular, have experienced the consequences of attempting to provoke Kohli, leading many veteran cricketers worldwide to caution against “poking the bear” before contests against India.
As the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England is set to begin in Hyderabad, a former England spinner, Monty Panesar, who played a crucial role in the 2012/13 series against India, has offered unconventional advice to Ben Stokes and the England team. Panesar suggests taking the risk of sledging Kohli during the series opener at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Kohli, having recently participated in the T20I series against Afghanistan, is already in Hyderabad preparing for the series. Statistical data underscore Kohli’s prowess against England bowlers, with 1991 runs in 28 matches, making it the second-highest tally against a single opponent. Notably, 1015 of these runs were scored at home, representing his highest total against any opposition, with an average of 56.38 and three centuries.
Panesar believes that psychological tactics can be employed to hinder Kohli’s run-scoring. He advises the English team to play with Kohli’s ego, suggesting that they refer to India as “chokers” and remind him of their prolonged ICC trophy drought. Panesar, who played a key role in England’s 2012/13 series win in India, advocates for engaging in mind games to gain a mental edge over the former Indian captain.
In addition to the psychological aspect, Panesar predicts that James Anderson will once again prove to be a challenge for Kohli. Anderson famously dismissed Kohli four times in the 2014 series, but since then, the 35-year-old has only been dismissed twice in four series, with the last instance occurring in 2021. Panesar anticipates Anderson using reverse-swing to trouble Kohli, emphasizing the potential effectiveness of this strategy in the upcoming series.
The post ‘You guys are chokers’ – Former England player wants Stokes to irritate Kohli with incessant sledging appeared first on Cricket Country.
