"It gives an upper hand" - Anil Kumble suggests Virat Kohli could have played domestic cricket after failing on Day 2 of IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test
Following another low score by Virat Kohli on Day 2 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble believes the right-hander should have participated in domestic matches ahead of the season. However, the 54-year-old reckons Kohli's struggles against spin bowling has nothing to do with not playing domestic games.
The former Indian captain only has one half-century in seven innings thus far in India's home season. The 35-year-old has got out to spin twice in this season, bringing into focus again Kohli's struggles against spin. On the second day of the second Test against New Zealand, he missed a full toss from Mitchell Santner to fall for a single from nine deliveries.
Speaking on Sports18, Kumble opined that being in an actual game scenario helps a lot more than batting in nets, elaborating:
"Perhaps just one or two innings in a match situation could have helped. Being in an actual game is definitely more beneficial than just practice; it gives an upper hand. If he feels that playing earlier would have benefited him, and the team management agrees, then maybe it would have. However, I don't think we can look at that as the only reason for his struggles against spin."
Notably, Virat Kohli had also struggled to score a Test hundred for almost four years, having last did it in 2019. The drought ended against Australia last year in Ahmedabad when he made 186. Regarding the second Test in Pune, India conceded a lead of 103 on day two after allowing the Blackcaps to score 259 on the opening day.
"Even the best modern-day batters find these situations tricky" - Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble also suggested that the match-up of Glenn Phillips against Kohli and Shubman Gill worked perfectly for the Blackcaps.
"When he's come to the crease, the pitches have often favored spin, which is a significant factor. His challenges against spin at the start of his innings haven't been solely due to mindset but also conditions that aided spinners. This contributed to the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli to the left-arm spin of Glenn Phillips, who was brought on as a strategic move. Even the best modern-day batters find these situations tricky."
New Zealand already lead the series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Bengaluru.