‘I feel he is trying a bit too hard’ – Anil Kumble on Virat Kohli’s form, struggle against spin

Virat Kohli (Source: Associated Press)

The form of Virat Kohli has come into question this season, especially after his scratchy knock against Bangladesh in India’s first Champions Trophy match on Thursday, February 20. The legendary batter was looking uncomfortable at the crease, scoring 22 off 38 deliveries before being dismissed by leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.

This has led many experts to question his approach in the game while India was chasing a modest total of 228 set by Bangladesh. One of the experts who has shared his views on Kohli’s form is former India coach and legendary spinner Anil Kumble. He believes that the 36-year-old batter is trying too hard to get back into form and needs to have a relaxed approach to the game and not worry at all when he comes into bat in the future.

“I feel he is trying a bit too hard. When you have that kind of pressure, and when you have that kind of expectations, you suddenly sort of start putting undue importance to all of that, and try hard to do well. When you do that, you are not really relaxed,” Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo.

“I think he is trying too hard, you can see it in the way he is going about his innings. He just needs to not worry about it. He just needs to come in, and not worry about anything else,” Kumble added.

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Kumble also mentioned his struggles against spin and how his mindset and approach are resulting in the two-time World Champion putting pressure on himself. Kohli has been struggling against spin recently which was also seen during the England series where he was dismissed twice by Adil Rashid in the two ODIs he played.

“To start off against spin, on that kind of a surface, you need a lot of confidence. He is certainly trying too hard to maneuver that. He is a good player of spin when he is in form,” Kumble said.

“I get a feeling watching him bat, I think he is putting a lot more pressure on himself, so he just needs to relax a little bit. Not worry too much about the outcome of what is happening on the field,” he concluded.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this news article is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and perspective. Readers are encouraged to evaluate the details thoughtfully and draw their own conclusions.

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