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'Playing On Backfoot': Bhajji Spills Secrets On Virat Kohli's Technical Tweaks For Gabba Test

Akshita Patel

Virat Kohli seen adjusting technical flaws in net session [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @harbhajan_singh/X.com]Virat Kohli seen adjusting technical flaws in net session [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @harbhajan_singh/X.com]

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Ahead of the third Test between India and Australia, Virat Kohli was seen sweating hard in the nets. Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who witnessed his net session first hand, revealed that Kohli is adjusting his technical flaws to adapt to Gabba pitch’s bounce. 

Virat Kohli, who scored a hundred in the first Test against Australia at Perth, was criticised for his back-to-back failures in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide. He scored a total of 18 runs in two innings, leading to India’s shameful 10-wicket defeat.

Currently, the five-game Border-Gavaskar series stands levelled 1-1, with the third Test scheduled at Gabba from December 14-18. Meanwhile, the visiting team stayed back in Adelaide for practice since the second Test ended prematurely in three days.

Harbhajan Singh describes Kohli's focused practice session

That being said, Virat Kohli used the two extra days to sweat hard in the nets and work on his shortcomings in Australian conditions. Harbhajan Singh, official commentator for the tour, revealed on Star Sports that he observed Kohli’s net session closely.

"Yes, whatever little I have seen him batting in the nets today. I have played a lot of cricket with him. He is a front-foot player. Knowing the bounce on Indian soil, you have to be on your front foot. The people who have played here, the likes of Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Langer, Hayden. They were good back foot players, because of the bounce. It is the kind of bounce you get in Australia, you have to be good player of bounce. You need to have a good backfoot game. That's what he was practicing," Harbhajan said.

The one thing that stood out distinctly was Virat Kohli playing on backfoot. Harbhajan explained that Kohli is an excellent front foot player because the subcontinent conditions demand it. However, to achieve success in Australia, especially in Gabba, one has to push to the back foot to adjust to the uneven bounce. And that’s exactly what Virat Kohli was practising.  

"Specifically I have noticed today. He was playing a lot of deliveries on the backfoot. He was going forward for the fuller ball but those balls which were slightly shorter, he was either leaving or trying to play them. The ball from the back foot, he knows that Gabba will be a different wicket where he will get to face a lot of bounce and pace and that back foot game needs to be included in his game. Good to see him working on the game," he added.

Virat Kohli rolls his arms in net session

As preparations intensified for the third Test at Gabba, the Indian team was seen sweating it out in the nets, with Virat Kohli grabbing the spotlight not just for his batting but for his surprising stint with the ball. 

A video from the practice session shows Kohli charging in with a long run-up, attempting to knock over the stumps. While there’s no indication that Kohli will roll his arm over during the Brisbane Test, the practice session likely reflects his enthusiasm and effort to keep the team spirits high.