Anjum Chopra Explains Reason For Virat Kohli's Batting Struggle In England Test Series, Says 'When You Focus Too Much, Sometimes You Tend To Falter'

Former India woman cricketer Anjum Chopra believes that Virat Kohli focussing too hard to be error-free in ongoing England’s tour is the reason behind his struggle with batting. The former India women captain also feels that Virat Kohli a making a slight error in his judgement while trying to be error-free.

Virat Kohli has struggled to come up with a big knock in the ongoing tour so far. In the 3 innings he played across 2 Tests, he registered scores of 0, 42, and 21. Since November 2019, Virat Kohli has also failed to smack a century in all the formats.

Since 2020, the Indian skipper has scored 407 runs across 10 Test matches at an average of 24, registering just 3 fifty-plus knocks during the period.

I Feel Virat Kohli Is Trying Very Very Hard To Be Error-Free, Says Anjum Chopra

Speaking about Virat Kohli’s current batting form to India Today, Anjum Chopra said that the Indian skipper is trying too hard to be error-free while batting.

“I think he is trying too hard. I feel he is trying very, very hard to be error-free. He knows he has got the game and the temperament, but when you focus too much, sometimes you tend to falter. I just feel he is making a slight error in judgement,” “But I don’t blame him. When the competition is so much, when you’re trying to be error-free in a contest between two cricketing nations, India and England”, Chopra said.

She also said that England pacer James Anderson is always up against Kohli in the ongoing series and the Indian captain very well knows that he is up for a contest.

“And then there is a James Andeson who is up against the Indian captain. And there is a lot of chatter. Even if you don’t read the news, you know which bowler has dismissed you many times. Anderson has got the better of him and he knows he is up for a contest.

“On the other hand, it’s pretty natural. It’s not happened because it’s Virat Kohli, it happens to everyone. It’s happening with Cheteshwar Pujara, it happened with Ajinkya Rahane also — being cautious and very careful,” Chopra further said.

Anjum Chopra also mentioned that Virat Kohli will be well aware of the solution to his batting struggle, which is focussing on one ball at a time. She also praised Kohli’s decent knock of 42 in the 1st innings of the Lord’s Test.

“I am sure he knows the remedy as well. He has got to play the ball and not the bowler. Just play the one-ball game. We always tell ourselves as batters that we need to focus on one ball, you have to make sure you are focussed on the fraction of second the bowler delivers the ball. It’s just about being in the present.

“So, it’s all about keeping it simple and following the basics. That 42 (at Lord’s) was good. Those cover drives, those pushes, those were perfect shots,” she added.

In spite of his poor batting form, Kohli has shown an exceptional example of leadership skills against England. India defeated England by 151 runs in the Lord’s Test, to gain a 1-0 lead in the series.

In the 1st Test too, India was at a dominating position in the 2nd innings, needing 157 runs for victory with 9 wickets in hand. However, rain spoiled the game on Day 5 and the match ended in a draw. With a 1-0 lead, India takes on England in the 3rd Test at Headingly, Leeds from August 25 (Wednesday).

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