‘Target Virat Kohli’s Body, Hit His Back Armpit’ – Ian Healy Shares Advice to Australia Pacers Ahead of BGT 2024-25

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Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has shared his strategy for handling Indian star batter Virat Kohli during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He urged Australian pacers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc to focus on Kohli’s front pad and body to unsettle him.

The 36-year-old is heading into the series with a poor run of form in Tests. He has scored just 250 runs in six matches this year at an average of 22.72. However, Kohli’s excellent record down under — 1352 runs at an average of 54.08 — make the hosts mindful of his potential to deliver once again.

Ian Healy’s Advice to Australian Pacers

Speaking on SEN Radio, Ian Healy said:

“The first matchup I’m looking at is how our quicks can bowl to Virat Kohli, and I think they should target his front pad quite often. He sits that front foot there and he can play from anywhere — he can play square on the off-side, he can whip onto the leg-side or he can rock back — but they’ve got to look for any sort of insecurity in his form and maybe target that front pad.”

If this approach fails, Healy suggested a more aggressive tactic: targeting Kohli’s body. He called it the “body bash” plan, advising bowlers to target at Kohli’s armpit area to make him uncomfortable.

“Don’t do it every ball because he’ll get used to it — it’s the impact ball that has to be on the front pad after he is set up with seam.”

“If that’s (front-foot tactic) not working, body bash. Bowl at the back armpit, that’s the right arm as a right-handed batsman — and it’s got to be hot. Have him jumping at times if he wants to ride those deliveries — ducking, weaving or bending backwards. Get that short leg position right next to him on the leg side and if you need a bumper, it’s got to go at the badge. He might try to bust out of a hard spell with a hook shot or pull shot and that will be hard to control if it’s badge height.

“So that’s the second tactic, body bashing,” he added.

Kohli’s Final Test Tour of Australia?

This series could be Kohli’s last Test tour of Australia. While he hasn’t been in the best of form recently, Kohli’s history against Australia makes him a player to watch. Whether Healy’s strategies will work or fuel Kohli’s resurgence remains to be seen, but the battle between the ‘King’ and Australia’s pacers is sure to be a highlight of the series.

Read Original Content: ‘Target Virat Kohli’s Body, Hit His Back Armpit’ – Ian Healy Shares Advice to Australia Pacers Ahead of BGT 2024-25

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