Key is Not Expecting Virat Kohli to Be the Spark All The Time: Jonty Rhodes

Indian batsman faced a lot of heat after displaying dismal performance in the first two Test of the five-match series against India. India could not erase the title of ‘poor travellers’. South African veteran Jonty Rhodes believes visitors shouldn’t heavily rely on the batting giant Virat Kohli.

India were 0-2 down in the series against England. The Indian batsman appeared hoping on the swinging conditions of England. They are facing the threat of being categorised as ‘flat track bullies’ being a top-ranked team.

India is in dire straits now. Be it over-reliance over Kohli and slip fielding woes of India or world-class swing bowling of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, India needs a mercurial approach.

Team India lost the opener by 31 runs at Edgbaston despite heroics from the leader like Kohli. They faced an embarrassing defeat by an innings and 159 runs in the challenging condition of Lord’s.

Going with the two-match deficit, England and India will lock horns for the third Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday (August 18).

India will be hoping to turn the tables this time to stay alive in the series.

However, the former South African cricketer, Jonty Rhodes did not rule out the possibility though.

“There is nothing like a loss being a catalyst. It just takes one person to spark sometimes,” Rhodes told India Today.

 

“But the key is not expecting Virat Kohli to be the spark all the time. The key I believe is it coming from somebody else,” Jonty Rhodes added.

Rhodes feels concerned over the arrogant attitude of Indian batters in the overseas tours. No Indian batsman has an average of more than 20-25 in the last South Africa tour, and same continued against England so far.

Jonty Rhodes on lack of preparations of Team India led by Virat Kohli:

The former great slammed the lack of preparations and arrogance in the harsh English conditions.

“When India went to South Africa there was a lot of criticism of not enough preparation. But you can’t point fingers at them this time in the UK. They have been there for quite a while. They have switched from white ball to the red ball, and you have some different players with the change in formats. But you have enough guys who have spent time there which should have helped them,” Rhodes said.