IND vs AUS 1st Test: It is a well-documented fact that the current Indian batting line-up has severe issues in tackling spinners on rank turners. The Indian sides, formerly renowned for their mastery of spin, have recently appeared to be more comfortable when facing express pace and sharp bounce while battling slow bowling. And same is the case for the modern great Virat Kohli. The star Indian cricketer has struggled against spin in recent times prompting experts to weigh in with their opinions on how he could tackle the greatest Australian off-spinner ever Nathan Lyon.
With the 1st Nagpur Test starting from February 9 many expectations will be from Virat Kohli to help his team retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
IND vs AUS 1st Test: Virat Kohli vs Nathan Lyon BATTLE takes center stage in Nagpur, Ex-India coach REVEALS Trick for Kohli to diffuse Lyon THREAT, Follow India vs Australia LIVE
In the four-match Test series, Lyon is anticipated to present a difficult challenge for Kohli, who has recently struggled against the spinners.
In white-ball cricket, the Indian batting maverick has found his form again, but his recent red-ball statistics don’t reflect his talent and calibre.
Since the year 2020, Kohli has amassed 879 runs at an average of 28.35 in 18 Test matches without recording a century.
Virat Kohli vs Nathan Lyon
To tackle the threat of Nathan Lyon in the India vs Australia Test series, Sanjay Bangar, former India batting coach, believes that Virat Kohli needs to adjust his strategy.
Bangar emphasised that Kohli needs to change this time against Lyon because he rarely plays sweep shots and doesn’t step out much against spinners in Test cricket.
“Virat Kohli does not do two things due to which he faces a lot of difficulties against Nathan Lyon. One, he does not believe much in stepping out, he plays more from the crease and then he does not play the sweep as well,” Bangar on Star Sports said.
“So where will he score runs against Nathan Lyon? So he will have to change his approach slightly. We have already seen in this season that he has used his feet slightly more, although he might have done it in the shorter format. He will have to do that,” he added.
Additionally, the former Indian cricketer advised Kohli to try tackling Lyon by slightly adjusting his off-stump guard, which would compel the Australian spinner to alter his usual strategy.
“He will have to move a little towards an off-stump guard, so that he is able to cover the line better and he should not allow Nathan Lyon to bowl too many deliveries. He will have to take a slightly aggressive approach, then only you can threaten him slightly,” he said.
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India vs Australia Nagpur 1st Test
India and Australia will face off in a four-match Test series, with the opening game scheduled for February 9 at Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium (VCA stadium). Since this would be the first Test match at the VCA Stadium in five years, there is a great deal of excitement among the spectators.
The series acts as India’s preliminary for the World Test Championship Championship match.
IND vs AUS 1st Test: Virat Kohli vs Nathan Lyon BATTLE takes center stage in Nagpur, Ex-India coach REVEALS Trick for Kohli to diffuse Lyon THREAT, Follow India vs Australia LIVE
Editors pick
