IPL 2022 | Kohli getting out by various range of bowlers, concerns Ian Bishop

As Virat Kohli seeks to shake off a form slump, Ian Bishop is ‘concerned’ about the former India captain’s persistent troubles against spin, particularly off-spin. 

Despite being a part of an explosive 62-run opening start, the former RCB captain was bid for runs by the spinners throughout his innings and eventually outclassed by a searing Moeen Ali off-break delivery.

However, breezy knocks from Rajat Patidar and Mahipal Lomror and last-over hammering by Dinesh Karthik helped Royal Challengers Bangalore post a match-winning total on board. 

While commenting on Kohli’s slump, Bishop stated on ESPNcricinfo’s talkshow, “For a while, for 10 or 15 runs, he wasn’t even going at a run-a-ball, or he was just going at a run-a-ball. He didn’t get ahead, and there wasn’t much intent. He hit one [six] over extra-cover off the seamer, and that was when he just went ahead to a run-a-ball and then he came back.”

“This is something we’ve been seeing with Virat, not just this season. Even last season, I remember, and even sometimes internationally, he’ll fly out - he didn’t fly out tonight - and then he’ll slow down again. So, I’m concerned,” the cricketer turned commentator cited. 

Another cricketing pundit, Daniel Vettori, remarked upon Kohli’s dismissal and said, “It all comes down to intent; at no stage did Kohli look like he was going for anything but a single. So, you plant your foot down the crease, and you wait for the ball to come. If the ball is in the right spot, you can’t manipulate a single.”

The star India batter is going through one of the darkest phases of his career. Apart from not scoring a century in the last two years, Kohli has even struggled to put the bat on the ball in this edition of the Indian Premier League.