IND vs PAK: Spin Is A Challenge For Virat Kohli: Tom Moody

Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody has said he is intrigued to see how Team India handles the spinners in the middle overs during the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The sixteenth edition of the continental championship is scheduled to get underway this week.

Pakistan and Nepal will lock horns in the tournament opener on Wednesday (August 30) in Multan. On the other hand, Team India will open their campaign against Pakistan on Saturday (September 2). With the tournament being played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, spinners will play a big role for their respective teams. And during the competition, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli who has struggled against spinners in recent times.

The right-handed batsman is set to bat at number three for India in the tournament. The onus will be on him to build the foundation for a big score. One of the all-time greats in ODIs, Virat Kohli has struggled to accelerate against spinners in recent years.

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Tom Moody on Virat Kohli’s struggle against spinners:

Even in the recent seasons of the IPL, Virat Kohli has failed to score at a good rate once the powerplays ended. Since the beginning of 2020, he has scored a modest 697 runs against spinners in 44 innings at a strike rate of less than 110 while losing his wicket 14 times.

During the same period in ODIs, he has managed only 550 runs in 21 innings at a strike-rate of 90. In those 21 innings, he has lost his wicket to spinners 13 times. Unsurprisingly, the cricketing fraternity is busy talking about Virat Kohli and his struggle against spinners in recent times.

And recently Tom Moody was also asked about the same on Star Sports. In reply, the former cricketer admitted that spin would be a challenge for Virat Kohli. He then went on to say that he is intrigued to see not only Virat Kohli but the whole Indian team against the spinners especially in the middle overs.

“Spin is a challenge for Virat Kohli. Not only for Virat Kohli but the Indian team. I am intrigued to see the tempo they play at this 50-over tournament because 50-over tournaments have changed over the recent years. It’s played at a more of an up-tempo, pace so you can’t sit in those middle overs.

“You need to move quickly through those middle overs with a high run-rate and make sure you are posting the 300-plus totals. So the game has evolved in the last three to five years.  It is gonna be intriguing to see not only India but every side to how they approach these middle overs to maximise the 50 overs they have on offer,” said Tom Moody.

.@TomMoodyCricket sheds light on the elements that he believes will be a challenge for @ImVkohli, and #TeamIndia. Do you agree with him? ??

Tune-in to #AsiaCupOnStar
Aug 30 | 2 PM | Star Sports Network#Cricket pic.twitter.com/jZNunXpfan

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 28, 2023