"There is no doubt that there is a problem" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli failing again in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Aakash Chopra believes Virat Kohli's repeated failures, especially his struggles against deliveries outside the off-stump, are a concern. He noted that the modern batting great had seemingly resolved the issue, but it resurfaced.
Kohli scored only three runs as India ended Day 3 (Monday, December 16) at 51/4 in their first innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 third Test. Australia were bowled out for 445 earlier in the day.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that Kohli's persistent issues outside the off-stump are a problem.
"There is no doubt that there is a problem. It is well documented. The problem outside the off-stump comes repeatedly and starts troubling you. When he had problems on the England tour of 2014, he made changes in his batting, started taking a massive stride, and changed his stance as well," he said (1:20).
"He has changed his game a lot. However, towards this end of his career, the same problem is coming again. He commits a slight error of judgment against deliveries outside the off-stump and ends up playing them. In fact, it's not that only. He was surprised by a bouncer and then closed his bat early and almost got caught and bowled off a top edge," Chopra added.
Virat Kohli almost gave a return catch to Josh Hazlewood while trying to play a back-of-the-length delivery to the leg side. He then ungainly fended a Mitchell Starc short delivery which rose sharply.
"If he keeps getting out like this, the vulnerability is exposed even more" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli needing to replicate Sachin Tendulkar
![Virat Kohli was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood's bowling. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/78119-17343541152082-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Virat Kohli might have to refrain from playing deliveries outside the off-stump, just like Sachin Tendulkar did in the 2004 Sydney Test.
"You obviously know that he is not at the top of his game. So what is the road ahead? I think there are two things. One, I remember the Sydney Test match after Sachin Tendulkar was repeatedly getting out to deliveries outside the off-stump. Can Virat Kohli do that? He will have to do that because if he keeps getting out like this, the vulnerability is exposed even more," he said (2:25).
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Kohli has been found wanting whenever India have lost early wickets.
"The other part, which is clear, is that when he got to bat after a long time, he scored a century. So when the ball stopped moving and the bowlers got a little tired, he was at his best. Then there was no judgment error. However, the numbers are not looking good whenever he is getting to bat early," Chopra added.
Chopra noted that Kohli might require a little bit of shielding from the new ball at this stage of his career. However, he wasn't too confident of India's top order, barring KL Rahul, allowing the No. 4 batter to walk out to bat against a relatively old ball in the remainder of the series.