Kohli is repeating his mistake and he needs to work on that – VVS Laxman

Former India batsman VVS Laxman feels that Kohli needs to address his issues of batting dismissals quickly before the fourth test against England. The Indian captain has been weak in the zone of deliveries outside off-stump and he has received harsh criticism for it.

Kohli has scored just one half-century this series and has been off the spotlight for quite a while. Laxman feels that with just a few days left for the fourth test, Kohli must be quick on his feet with respect to making changes in his technique.

While in a discussion with ESPNCricinfo, Laxman said, “I thought India would post a big score in the second innings at Headingley when the second new ball was taken, especially with the way Pujara and Virat Kohli were batting. However, Kohli is repeating his mistake of playing the line outside off stump away from his body and he will need to work on that. There is not much time left before the next Test and this is the challenge of international cricket.”

Give Freedom to Rishab Pant to attack: VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman believes that Rishab Pant needs to sort out his batting approach soon. It’s very clear that Rishab Pant is in a confused state of whether to attack or defend. Due to this, he is losing his and falling prey to soft dismissals.

Laxman feels that if the team management talks to Pant and makes his role in the team clear, it will help both Pant and Team India.

“There is a lot going on in Rishabh Pant’s mind. If you see from the time of the WTC final, he has been dismissed a lot to deliveries outside off-stump. Whenever Rishabh Pant is in good form, it is because of his fearless approach and the way in which he plays. But now he is not able to play freely because of the pressure of getting out in a similar fashion. If the team management and batting coach talk to him and give him the license of playing attacking cricket, it will benefit him immensely,” VVS Laxman concluded.

Rishab Pant hasn’t been among the run-scorers in the series so far. This has made the middle order very weak and vulnerable. Talks of including a sixth specialist batsman in the team have been circulating. Whatever the strategy might be, India needs to make a sound decision since only two test matches are left in the series. Contribution from the middle order might direct the result in India’s favor in the upcoming matches.