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STUMP VISION OCTOBER 31, 2025 | The Indian Eye 44

Experts Urge Calm as Virat Kohli

Falters Down Under

After two consecutive ducks in Australia, cricketing greats Ravichandran Ashwin and

Irfan Pathan have called for patience and perspective, urging Virat Kohli to trust his game

and rediscover his rhythm without succumbing to pressure

OUR BUREAU hander, expecting width, was trapped
plumb in front. It’s a trap Kohli has
Perth
escaped countless times before—but
or the first time in years, Vi- at present, the timing isn’t clicking.
rat Kohli looks uncertain at Both Ashwin and Pathan agree
Fthe crease. The former India that the issue isn’t form so much as
captain—celebrated for his fierce rhythm. Kohli, they argue, needs
consistency and insatiable hunger overs at the crease—something ear-
for runs—has endured back-to-back ly dismissals have denied him. “He
ducks in Australia. In the glare of a missed the line, not because of poor
high-profile ODI series, Kohli’s lean technique, but lack of time spent bat-
patch has triggered debates about ting,” Ashwin observed.
form, footwork, and future. Yet, amid The Australians, to their credit,
the noise, two of India’s most respect- have targeted Kohli clinically. Bart-
ed voices have struck a calmer tone: lett’s subtle seam movement, backed
keep faith, don’t panic, and let great- by tight field settings, has exposed a
ness rediscover itself. rare uncertainty in India’s linchpin.
Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s With the series already lost, all eyes
senior all-rounder and one of crick- now turn to the Sydney ODI, where
et’s sharpest analysts, dissected Kohli has historically flourished.
Kohli’s dismissal with forensic clari- Sydney has often been kind to
ty on his YouTube channel. “Xavier him—its true bounce and even pace
Bartlett bowled two outswingers and suit his driving game. A fluent in-
then straightened the line to trap nings there could silence doubts as
Virat LBW,” he said. “That’s a gen- quickly as they arose.
uine pattern we often see with Rohit Both Ashwin and Pathan see
Sharma—baiting outside off before Kohli’s struggle as part of a larger
bringing one in.” story—one of transition, leadership,
Ashwin noted that Kohli’s front- and legacy. With younger talents
foot movement told the real story. emerging, India is entering a phase
“He planted his foot in line but didn’t where its old guard must balance
quite cover the movement. That mentoring with performance. “The
shows he isn’t in full rhythm yet,” best thing Virat can do now,” Pathan
he explained. “He needs time in the said, “is stay calm, take that one good
middle to find that fluency.” innings, and let muscle memory take
Kohli, dismissed twice in iden- over.”
tical fashion by Bartlett, looked a Virat Kohli (ANI file photo) Even in lean times, Kohli com-
touch tentative—caught between mands faith because of what he’s
defending and flicking—an unchar- es—we haven’t seen that before,” he He also cautioned that the done before. His intensity, fitness,
acteristic sight for a batter whose said. “It could be pressure or rusti- “sword of selection” can weigh heav- and mental resilience have set bench-
trademark balance once neutralized ness, but Virat must not get desper- ily. With young opener Yashasvi marks for an entire generation. Two
the best attacks in the world. Ashwin, ate for that single. He needs to enjoy Jaiswal waiting in the wings, Pathan low scores won’t erase 15 years of ex-
however, believes the issue is tempo- batting again. Runs will come once said the environment must stay sup- cellence.
rary. “Come Sydney, I see no reason he does.” portive. “It’s not easy to play when “Great players go through these
why he won’t score. He’ll be thinking Pathan’s advice reflected em- you feel the sword hanging over you. phases,” Ashwin reminded viewers.
deeply about these dismissals, and pathy born of experience. “No one I hope that’s not in Virat’s mind.” “It’s part of the game. But when they
he’ll find a way.” plays forever, but these two—Rohit Kohli’s dismissals underline a find that one innings, the roar comes
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan and Virat—have given so much to familiar technical pattern. In the first back louder.”
offered the mental counterpart to Indian cricket. Even if they play just ODI, Bartlett drew him into play- As India heads to Sydney, that’s
Ashwin’s technical analysis. On his a couple more years, we should cher- ing across the line; in the second, what the world awaits — not the end
channel, Pathan urged Kohli to stay ish it. The selectors should back them he shaped two deliveries away be- of an era, but perhaps the start of yet
patient. “Two ducks in two match- until the rhythm returns.” fore nipping one back in. The right- another Kohli comeback.

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