"He wasn't in control of his emotions" - Brad Hogg on Virat Kohli's poor show with the bat in IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test
Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has commented on Team India's ace batter Virat Kohli's twin failures in the recently concluded second Test against New Zealand in Pune. He opined that the former Men in Blue captain changing his mindset was the reason behind his downfall.
Hogg suggested that Kohli overanalyzed the situation and tried to be overaggressive. The seasoned campaigner scored just one run off nine balls in the first innings. He perished while trying to whip a low full toss towards the leg side off left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner's bowling.
Kohli failed to connect as the ball landed just below his bat before crashing into the stumps. In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Brad Hogg,' here's what he said about Kohli's dismissal (from 2:14):
"They took New Zealand too lightly and they are trying to play catch-up cricket. All of a sudden, you saw that mindset shift with Virat Kohli in the first innings of the second Test match. He was more aggressive, the way he strolled out there, the way that he was trying to attack the bowling. He just looked like he was overanalyzing. He looked as if he wasn't in control of his emotions and it showed in the shot that he played when he got out."
Hogg emphasized that India's senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will have to deliver in the remaining third Test of their home series against New Zealand, adding (from 3:17):
"If you look at the technique of Rohit Sharma to Southee, he's going to have to be a little bit tighter. Virat Kohli has to switch on from ball one."
India are facing the heat following their back-to-back defeats to New Zealand. The side suffered their first home Test series defeat in 12 years, while the Blackcaps clinched their maiden Test series victory in India.
The third Test will be crucial for Rohit Sharma and company as they strive to remain in the hunt for a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC 2023-25) final. The match will be played in Mumbai from Friday, November 1, onwards.
"The loss against New Zealand is actually a good thing" - Bradd Hogg feels India will now be more motivated to do well in BGT 2024-25
Brad Hogg believes the series defeat against New Zealand could be a blessing in disguise for Team India ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
He said India will now work harder for the Australia tour and will be more motivated to win. Hogg remarked in the aforementioned video (from 4:43):
"The loss against New Zealand is actually a good thing because it's made them think, 'Hang on, we are not quite as good as we think. We should have dominated here but we haven't. Now we've got work to do to say in the World Test Championship competition.'"
"So, they will come down here with a little bit more energy, a little bit more fire, a little bit more heart, and they'll work a lot harder than probably what they would have done beforehand to make sure they're ready for that first Test match here in Australia," Hogg added.
India and Australia will compete for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a five-match Test series Down Under. The opening encounter will be played in Perth from November 22 onwards.