(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers talked about a strategy that can be used to dismiss India batter Virat Kohli in the upcoming two-match Test series.
India have never won a Test series in South Africa. To do so this time, Kohli, who will bat a number four, will have to play a crucial role. The right-hander holds a great record in the Test matches played in South Africa, having scored 719 runs in 14 innings.
As the South African bowlers have faced difficulty in getting rid of Kohli in the past, de Villiers revealed a ploy that can work in their favour.
The legendary player stated that the South African pacers should try to keep their line around the fourth-stump channel, aiming to move the ball away from that spot.
“Only way to get a Virat Kohli kind of batter out is a very orthodox way of bowling on the fourth stump channel and play a waiting game. And wait for that one delivery which nips a bit far away. You can’t attack a good player,” de Villiers said as quoted by Hindustan Times.
De Villiers further drew a comparison between Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli, asserting that the bowlers must play a waiting game by bowling consistently outside the off-stump.
“Like in case of Tendulkar, it was silly to always wait for leg before (to an incoming delivery). Because he would hit you through mid-wicket. So bowl those deliveries outside off-stump (to Virat) and wait for one to either nip away or nip in,” he added.
Notably, Kohli has left South Africa due to personal reasons. He is expected to join back the team before the first Test, which is scheduled to commence on December 26 at the SuperSport Park, Centurion.