ICC T20 World Cup 2016: India vs Australia - Shane Watson admits that they haven't found an idea to disrupt Virat Kohli
India will take on Australia, today at Mohali in a virtual quarter-final match in the ongoing ICC World T20. Both the teams are currently tied at 4 points and need to win this match to progress further from the group stages.
Virat Kohli has been in a tremendous form of late and especially against Australia regardless of formats he usually raises his game. His record against the Aussies speaks about itself and in the pre-match press conference Australian all-rounder Shane Watson the fact that Virat‘s wicket is the precious for him and his side.
Australia ran out of ideas on how to disrupt Kohli
The 34-year-old admitted that Australia has run out of ideas on how to disrupt Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli when he's in the middle. Kohli is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the world and has been a particular obstacle in front of Australia in recent memory.
Kohli’s outstanding run against Australia
This summer Kohli dominated the ODI series between the two nations Down Under in a losing cause, posting two centuries and averaging 76.2 in five matches. He followed the good work up with scores of 90*, 59* and 50 in Australia's 0-3 T20I series whitewash in January.
Last year, he plundered four Test centuries in as many matches in Australia, accumulating a whopping 692 runs at an average of 86.5. Kohli has not backed down whenever the Australians have ignited a war of words on the field, but nothing appears to affect the Delhi-born batsman.
We’ve tried few things against Kohli but it hasn’t worked – Watson
Watson admitted that Australian team tried some different things to unsettle Kohli’s concentration but wasn’t successful. He said, "We’ve tried a few different things. It hasn't really worked. The silent treatment, we thought might work but he still just goes about his business and is able to churn out the runs.”
Watson also talked about the hard treatment and said, "We've also gone fairly hard at him as well, at times.”
Watson also said that he had only once saw Kohli affected by the hard words and said, "I've only ever seen it affect him for about two balls, once, and I dropped him at slip.”
Watson praises Kohli
He also praised Kohli for his passion for the game and his dedication. He said, “He knows his game incredibly well and whichever way we go we're just going to have to be at our best to try and get him out early. Because once he gets in he certainly knows how to put pressure on bowlers."
Watson will play this year’s IPL for the Royal Challengers Bangalore under the captaincy of Virat Kohli.