Exclusive: Can Virat Kohli Find a Solution Outside the Off-Stump?

Virat Kohli opened the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with an unbeaten hundred in the second innings in Perth. One could get a whiff of his hunger for runs, which raised expectations that he perhaps would smash a couple more in the tour. That didn't happen in Adelaide and Brisbane. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, starting December 26, followed by Sydney in January, all eyes will be on Kohli and how he approaches the deliveries outside off-stump.

The star batsman's caught-behind dismissals, four times while chasing deliveries outside the off-stump, have become a talking point. It reminded the cricket fraternity of Kohli's torrid tour of England in 2014-15 when he struggled against the swing of James Anderson. Can he find a solution against Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland before the Boxing Day Test, starting December 26 in Melbourne, followed by Sydney in January?

Nothing wrong with reflexes

Former South Africa batter and renowned batting consultant Neil McKenzie, who worked with Kohli in the Indian Premier League at Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier this year, feels it is a phase, and Kohli knows how to overcome such situations.

He dismissed social media murmurs that the 36-year-old may have lost his reflexes with age. "I have worked in the same team with him and seen his work ethic. He is world-class. His standards are high, and he got a hundred for India only a couple of matches ago. People go through ups and downs, and having watched him train, I know there is nothing wrong with his reflexes. He is fitter and stronger," McKenzie told Sportsboom.com after the rain-interrupted Gabba Test, where Josh Hazlewood got Kohli for 3.

Earlier, the superstar scored 5 in the first innings in Perth [dismissed by Hazlewood], 7 and 11 [dismissed by Starc and Boland] in Adelaide.

McKenzie played 58 Tests for South Africa and has three fifties in six Tests in Australia. He didn't want to advise Kohli and said the legendary cricketer will work it out before the next Test. However, he reasoned how playing a tad late could help. "The average and humble cricketer I was, and looking at one of the world's greatest players, Kohli, I would say try and hit the ball a touch later. He seems anxious while going at the ball. I can vouch that there is nothing wrong with his technique. How he finds a solution will be down to his game plans and what he is prepared to go at, not go at," he added.

'Leave the ball'

McKenzie said that the pitches in Australia and disciplined bowling kept him on a tight leash, and entertainers like Kohli like to dominate. "The pink ball swings a bit, and he is an attacking player. Kohli goes for his shots outside the off-stump, and that's why people pay big money to watch him play. He is an entertainer.

"Most batters like to dominate that channel. The world's best batters like Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith dominate that channel, and you can do that with good leaves and playing the ball late besides your shot selection," said the former Proteas batter.

The World Test Championship is alive as South Africa, Australia and India vie for a spot in the final. India needs to win the remaining two Tests against Australia to stay in contention for the top spot, and for that, Kohli needs to fire. "Test cricket is no longer just an individual series. It is a proper competition where you are also looking at other teams. Sportspersons are competitive and point-driven. They want to be the best in the world, and Test cricket is the ultimate," McKenzie signed off.

As the legendary Sunil Gavaskar said, Kohli can also take a leaf out of his idol Sachin Tendulkar's books and avoid cover-driving the ball. The master had done so in his epic knock of 241 not out in Sydney in 2003-04.