‘Mind is playing a trick’ – Dinesh Karthik decodes Virat Kohli’s similar pattern of dismissals

Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has made a huge statement on Virat Kohli after the former India skipper was out for 3. Karthik has played with Kohli both for India and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The 39-year-old was speaking on CRICBUZZ and made a huge statement on Kohli’s repeated dismissals in similar fashion. 

Dinesh Karthik, while decoding the malaise Kohli is facing, said, “So, he is saying, 'I don't want to play anything outside the off stump. I want to leave it'. But he is so tuned to doing it, and he is thinking about it so much through the day and in the night that, eventually, the moment it is thrown out there, I think his body reacts in such a way that his hands go hard at the ball. And that's what inducing the edge."

The likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border have also expressed their concerns over the form shown by the former Indian skipper. Barring his century during the 2nd innings of the Perth Test, Kohli has struggled to score runs with the bat. 

Dinesh Karthik analyses Virat Kohli’s weakness outside off-stump

During his chat with CRICBUZZ, the former India star said, “If you are trying to tell me that Virat doesn't know he shouldn't be playing outside the off stump, I don't think it is right. He is aware; he wants to leave it. But, as much as he is telling himself, when the game is on and he is in the middle and he is all alone, I think the mind is playing a trick, where the moment he sees it on release, his perception goes towards the ball and that is hampering him."

Team India ended day three of the Brisbane Test on 51/4, still needing 195 runs to avoid the follow-on. Dinesh Karthik was asked what the visitors need to do to salvage the game early on Tuesday, which is set to the penultimate day. The former Indian wicketkeeper replied that one huge partnership can save India the game. 

“One big partnership. They need to believe and cross 245. That is the first thing that they need to do. If that doesn't happen, I don't think we will survive the Test unless the rain comes down real hard. If they avoid the follow-on, they'll find a way to salvage something out of this Test and that makes them believe that something special is around the corner. If not, it could be a hard couple of weeks,” said Dinesh Karthik. 

The 39-year-old had said that Rohit Sharma needs to play a knock like he did during the England tour in 2021. “Rohit needs to draw a little bit of energy from what he did at Lord's. On a very cloudy, overcast day, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma showed how it is to leave a ball and play for long periods of time. I think he needs to draw a little bit from that place, that mindset where he said anything outside the I'm leaving. I'll bide my time. The more time he spends in there crease, it's good for India, and that will get the team closer to a draw," he said.