Ramiz Raja Insists Virat Kohli Needs To Learn From KL Rahul About Playing In English Conditions

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has stated that Virat Kohli can learn from the way KL Rahul batted with soft hands against the moving ball in tough batting conditions. Indian skipper Kohli was dismissed for a first-ball duck by his arch-nemesis James Anderson. The dismissal followed Cheteshwar Pujara’s wicket which brought England back into the Test match.

Having dominated the bowling back in the 2018 tour of England, Kohli was expected to produce a batting effort along those lines. However, the hopes were shattered when Kohli nicked a rather innocuous delivery outside off on his very first ball to leave India in a spot of bother. KL Rahul on the other hand stood firm at one end, and Ramiz Raja feels Rahul’s way of approaching with soft hands needs to be copied by Kohli.

“When KL Rahul was batting, there was proper alignment in his game. He was getting close to the ball, knew where his off-stump was. That is how batsmen need to bat in such conditions. Sometimes great players can also learn from younger ones. Virat Kohli can also learn from the way Rahul batted with soft hands. Kohli must not play with hard hands going ahead in the series. He needs to give himself time to settle in,” he noted.

“Pujara’s footwork is weak” – Ramiz Raja

Cheteshwar Pujara also fell to Anderson after adding just four runs to the total. Although he fell to a very good delivery, it was a lack of footwork that cost him his wicket, something that has bothered the Saurashtra batsman for a while now, opined Ramiz.

“Cheteshwar Pujara looked iffy out in the middle and ended up edging a ball outside the off-stump. Both the deliveries [to Kohli and Pujara] were very good but Pujara’s footwork is weak. He is getting out too many times while standing at the crease. He is having to use the shoulder and arms to go on the front foot, which is causing him to lose control,” Ramiz expressed.

At the end of the rain-curtailed Day 2, India was 125/4, trailing England by 58 runs in the first innings with Rahul and Rishabh Pant at the crease. Going into Day 3, they will be looking to build a partnership to make sure the fragile lower-order isn’t exposed too early.