WTC Final: New Zealand's Variety Of Fast Bowlers Will Challenge Virat Kohli, Says Parthiv Patel
World Test Championship Final: Former India wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel said one of the challenges for India captain Virat Kohli in the final will be "a variety of fast bowlers" that New Zealand possess.
Highlights
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Parthiv Patel said Virat Kohli may be troubled by NZ's variety of pacers
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Kohli will lead India in the World Test Championship final vs New Zealand
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WTC final will be played at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England
Former Team India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel said Virat Kohli needs to give himself a bit of time with regards to his batting ahead of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand. "I think probably he will have to give himself a bit of time and try to think what he did in 2018 - where he got a number of hundreds. So, probably he is better equipped than he was in 2014, but there will be challenges and there will be challenges of a variety of fast bowlers. The reason being -- it is not a one-dimensional fast bowling attack," Prithvi Patel said on Star Sports' show 'Game Plan'.
Virat Kohli's game in English conditions has improved substantially, especially when the Indian skipper's below-par 2014 tour is compared with the one in 2018.
In 2014, he managed only 134 runs in five Tests at a poor average of 13.40. Four years later, he hammered 593 runs in the five-Test series. Virat Kohli averaged 59.30 with two hundreds in 2018.
Considering this, if India are to beat New Zealand in Southampton they will surely need the same herculean effort from the captain.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag also feels Kohli needs to be patient and force the Kiwi bowlers to bowl at him rather than on the fourth and fifth stump outside off.
"I think Kohli should show patience and he should leave a lot of balls. They must be made to pitch in the line and then he can score," he told ANI.
"He has to show patience and I am sure he knows that. I remember in 2014 when he didn't score runs, he came back and spent time with Sachin Tendulkar and went back (in 2018) and scored a lot of runs."
Virat Kohli will lead India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand from June 18 at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. The WTC final will be followed by a five-match Test series against England.
India Cricket Team
New Zealand Cricket Team
Parthiv Patel
Virat Kohli