“I’m not sure he’s changed” - When James Anderson took a dig at Virat Kohli’s technical faults during 2016 India tour
Back in 2016, former England pacer James Anderson took an aim at Virat Kohli's technical flaws in the Test format. His comments came during the fourth Test between both teams in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Although Kohli emerged as the standout batter in the series, Anderson claimed that his shortcomings were not visible on Indian pitches.
For context, Kohli suffered with horrendous form in the 2014 tour of England. In five games, the right-hander managed to score only 134 runs at an average of 13.40. The England bowlers drew him to play strokes outside the off-stump against the moving ball, with Anderson dismissing him on four out of 10 occasions.
Ahead of the 2016 series, Virat Kohli felt the England tour was a major setback for him, and was determined to turn things around on his home soil. He certainly did that by registering a terrific knock of 235 in Mumbai and helping India secure a mammoth first-innings lead of 231 runs.
Despite Kohli's whirlwind knock which kept the visitors under pressure, James Anderson wasn't convinced of the 35-year-old's improved skills against the pacers. He said (via ESPNcricinfo):
"I'm not sure he's changed. I just think any technical deficiencies he's got aren't in play out here. The wickets just take that out of the equation."
"We had success against him in England, but the pace of the pitches over here just take any flaws he has out of the equation. There's not that pace in the wicket to get the nicks, like we did against him in England with a bit more movement. Pitches like this suit him down to the ground," he added.
The game saw England lose by an innings and 36 runs, and eventually end the series with a 0-4 defeat. Kohli amassed 655 runs at an average of 109.16, with two hundreds and as many fifties.
Virat Kohli fared well on his last England Tour
On his last tour to England in 2021/22, Virat Kohli contributed 249 runs in nine innings at an average of 27.66, with two fifties to his name. The series saw the visitors take a lead of 2-1 before a COVID-19 outbreak in the Indian team ahead of the fifth Test match in September 2021.
A year later in September 2022, England secured an impressive seven-wicket victory in the rescheduled final Test to level the series 2-2.
England toured India earlier this year under the leadership of Ben Stokes. They won the first game, but lost their remaining fixtures to lose the series 4-1. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli missed the series due to the birth of his son.
England will visit India to play a white-ball series, consisting of five ODIs and three T20Is, in January-February 2025.