Virat Kohli would like to improve his record at The Oval.Image Credit source: BCCI Twitter
New Delhi: Test cricket in England has always been challenging for India. Team India has also got some success in recent years but it is still not that easy. especially when the opportunity World Test Championship final Are. The Indian team will fight for the title against Australia at the Oval ground in London and before this former India captain Virat Kohli has issued a warning to his teammates.
This final between India and Australia will start on Wednesday, June 7 at the historic Oval ground in England. This is the same ground where two years ago Team India defeated England in the Test series. Despite this, Team India is cautious about this match and star batsman Kohli has said this.
Also read: Will London’s weather be kind or bad?
What did Kohli say at the Oval?
Before the final, Kohli warned about the pitch and conditions of the Oval in a conversation with the broadcaster of the match, Star Sports. Kohli called this match going to be held in the Oval challenging because this time the Oval will not traditionally get a flat pitch for batting.
With rich returns in England & a master of his skill, @imVkohli knows what it takes to ace tough conditions in London, leading up to the #UltimateTest,
tune-in to #FollowTheBlues
June 7 | 9 AM & 12 PM | Star Sports Network & Disney+ Hotstar.#WTCFinalOnStar #BelieveInBlue pic.twitter.com/l0WG6A3lt9— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 5, 2023
Kohli clearly said that the batsmen have to be alert and disciplined while playing carefully. The former Indian captain also said that the one who quickly adjusts to the circumstances will be successful.
Ever wondered why @imVkohli is ALWAYS at the top of his game against the mighty 🇦🇺?
The King is wary of their threat & is rare to go!
tune-in to #FollowTheBlues
June 7 | 9 AM & 12 PM | Star Sports Network & D+H#WTCFinalOnStar #UltimateTest #BelieveInBlue #cricket pic.twitter.com/TF2AGwUtDX— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 6, 2023
Smith tops in Oval, India fails
Team India has won only 2 out of 14 Test matches at the Oval. In such a situation, Kohli’s warning is not wrong. There are other reasons for Kohli’s concern. Except for Rohit Sharma, the performance of Team India’s batsmen has been poor on this ground. Rohit had scored a brilliant century on this ground in the last series and won the team.
📽️ Oval Diaries ft. #TeamIndia #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/KM4fL8DgKj
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2023
Apart from him, the rest of the batsmen have failed. Kohli himself has scored only 169 runs here at an average of just 28. At the same time Cheteshwar Pujara’s average is only 18 on this ground. Ajinkya Rahane, who returned to Team India, could only score runs at an average of 9.
In contrast, this ground has been excellent for Australia’s legendary batsman Steve Smith. Former Australian captain Smith has scored 391 runs in 6 innings at an astonishing average of 97.75 at the Oval ground.
What is the reason for Kohli’s concern?
The pitch at The Oval has generally been friendly to the batsmen and matches have always been held here in July or August when the heat in England rises. Even in this situation, there is a big difference between the performance of Team India’s batsmen and Steve Smith. This time it is being played in June, when the weather is a bit cooler and in such a situation, batting can be even more difficult for the Indian batsmen. Kohli’s concern and his warning seem reasonable.
read this also: If Rohit is out then who will be inside the playing XI?
Source: www.tv9hindi.com
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