I don’t remember the last time it happened

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra was perplexed with star batter Virat Kohli’s struggles against the Sri Lankan spinners in the recently concluded three-match ODI series. Kohli was out LBW to spin in all three games.

The former cricketer shed light on how Kohli had misread the line of the deliveries and also noted that the 35-year-old used up a review each time. He scored just 58 runs in three innings in the series.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, here’s what Aakash Chopra had to say about Virat Kohli:

“Virat Kohli LBW three times in three innings against spinners. I don’t remember the last time it happened. He was playing the wrong line and also used up reviews each time. He wasn’t quite able to impose himself in the series.”

Chopra also highlighted the struggles of Shreyas Iyer, saying:

“Shreyas Iyer is considered a good player of spin but even he was unable to counter the spinners twice and got dismissed to pace once. If our good players of spin have such performances, not sure why is it happening.”

The Indian batters faltered in the third ODI as well against the spinners, with left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage emerging as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5/27.

Aakash Chopra on difference between Rohit Sharma and other batters

With 157 runs from three innings, Rohit Sharma had a successful series from an individual perspective. However, Aakash Chopra was surprised to see how the other Indian batters failed to impose themselves once Sharma was dismissed.

“Rohit Sharma seems a cut above the rest. It seems like the bowlers fear while bowling to him. But once he is dismissed, other batters are just not able to bat and this is a pattern India will be disappointed with,” he said (as per the aforementioned source).

Chopra reckons India will be disappointed to lose with a full-strength team against Sri Lanka as they didn’t even experiment or rest a majority of their first-choice players.