TOP STORIES

"He's trying so hard": Ricky Ponting speaks on Kohli's perpetual struggle

Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025
News

Indian batter Virat Kohli, who has been a pillar of the Indian batting lineup for many years, has been experiencing one of the most challenging phases in his career. Kohli has been facing criticism for his poor form in the recently concluded Test series against Australia, where he was only able to produce 190 runs from nine innings. 

After a series of underwhelming innings, there have been questions raised on Kohli's future in Test cricket. Meanwhile, former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting remarking on Kohli's form, compared Kohli's struggle to his own towards the end of his career. Ponting pointed that Kohli is trying hard to get runs. 

“The challenge is, and I can see it with Virat now, you can see how much he wants it. He's trying so hard that that actually makes batting harder. The harder you try sometimes with batting, the less success you're to have," Ponting said on the ICC Review. 

“I started thinking more about not getting out rather than scoring runs. And that might sound strange, but that's what it was. I was trying to be so perfect, set the right example, play exactly the way my team needed me all the time.”

Having faced the same challenge, Ponting backed the natural style of play to remain good at this stage of the career. 

“If I got a half volley, I drove it. If I got a short ball, I pulled it. And I can just see a little bit of that with Virat now, where even the way that he is getting out, you can see he does not want to be playing at those balls," Ponting stated.

“He is trying not to do it, but there is some mental block there that is making him feel for that one outside the off-stump," Ponting said.


 

Tags

More News

News

Haris Rauf misses out as Pakistan name squad for Bangladesh T20Is

1 hr ago

Pakistan have revealed a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with the trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi again failing to make the cut. Salman Agha will continue to lead the side that witnesses the return of Faheem Ashraf and Fakhar Zaman. <...


News

“Rishabh actually talks a lot about what he does”: Indian batting coach on Pant’s approach

1 hr ago

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has heaped praise on India’s top-order batters after their spectacular performances that secured India a crucial win in the second Test—levelling the five-match series 1–1. With the third Test at Lord’s beginning this Thursday, their form couldn’t come at a better time. Sitanshu lauded Indian batsmen&...


News

Big stars unavailable as New Zealand name squad for Zimbabwe Tests

1 day ago

New Zealand have unveiled a 15-man Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to begin on July 30 in Bulawayo. Notably, senior stars Kane Williamson, Michael Bracewell and Kyle Jamieson are absent from the squad. 

Young pacer Matt  Fisher has earned a maiden Test sel...


News

ENG vs IND, Test: Fast-bowling great urges England to play Archer at Lord’s

1 day ago

As England aim to bounce back in the third Test against India at Lord’s (July 10, 2025), former fast-bowling great James Anderson has firmly advised England to play paceman Jofra Archer in the third Test. Anderson stressed that the third Test is very crucial for England. Archer hasn’t played Test cricket since Febru...


News

Dasun Shanaka makes comeback in Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for Bangladesh series

1 day ago

Sri Lanka have named their 17‑member squad for the upcoming three‑match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on July 10 in Pallekele and conclude on July 16 in Colombo. Sri Lanka have recalled former captain Dasun Shanaka and allrounder Chamika Karunaratne to the T20 setup. Dasun Shanaka l...