Virat Kohli vs Josh Hazlewood: How the Aussie pacer keeps testing King's greatness?

Virat Kohli vs Josh Hazlewood player battle [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @cricketcomau/X.com]

Virat Kohli, India’s modern-day legend, is all set to make an ODI comeback after months of layoff. However, a fierce rival in Josh Hazlewood awaits to pour water on the fans’ hopes.

Kohli, the king of run chases, and Hazlewood, the master of control and precision, have had intense face-offs over the years.

Their clashes have been a mix of aggression, respect, and top-class cricketing skill. Every time these two lock horns, it feels like a mental game within the larger match. The game feels like it slows down for that one moment of pure cricketing theatre. 

Ahead of the upcoming India vs Australia ODI series, let’s see how their match-up has panned out over the years.

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Will Josh Hazlewood haunt Virat Kohli?

(Table: Virat Kohli's ODI stats vs Josh Hazlewood)

Virat Kohli, the master of chases and pressure situations, has faced bowlers of all kinds: express pace, swing, spin, you name it. But Josh Hazlewood has managed something few others have: he makes Kohli think twice.

In 98 balls bowled, the Aussie pacer has allowed the Indian veteran to score just 58 runs with 11.60 average and 59.18 strike rate.

Notably, Hazlewood has dismissed Kohli as many as 5 times with a bowling economy of 3.55.

Containing Virat Kohli isn’t an easy task, but Josh Hazlewood has mastered this art.

Why is Josh Hazlewood so effective against Virat Kohli?

The Australian seamer does not depend on express pace or flamboyant swing. Rather, he bowls a stern line, testing around the top of off-stump, keeping Virat Kohli on a perpetual guessing mode.

Josh Hazlewood has dismissed Kohli multiple times with deliveries that seem innocuous, back of a length, just outside off, yet carry the weight of pure tactical brilliance. It’s not raw pace that gets Kohli; it’s the relentless consistency. 

The right-arm pacer does not divert from his script ever, and he is aware that even the world's greatest batter can be frustrated into error.

Hazlewood uses subtle seam movement, bounce, and relentless accuracy to create doubt. Kohli, with his aggressive intent and front-foot dominance, sometimes misjudges length or pace and edges deliveries to slips or the keeper.

Hazlewood could overpower Kohli in upcoming series

As for the upcoming ODI series between India and Australia, Josh Hazlewood is likely to dominate Virat Kohli, especially in Perth, a paradise for seam bowlers.

The veteran Indian batter is still vulnerable to outside the off-stump line deliveries, and this weakness will be on Hazlewood’s mind all the time.

Even at Sydney Cricket Ground, the Aussie pacer can force Kohli into a mistimed shot, as bigger boundaries will aid easy catching on the boundary ropes.

In summary, Hazlewood’s blend of patience, control, and slight movement reveals the tiniest gaps in Kohli’s mechanics, particularly in the early part of an innings.

Though Virat Kohli is able to overpower most bowlers, Josh Hazlewood's careful planning and toughness of mind allow him to be among the very few who can regularly test the Indian superstar in ODIs. 

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