Sanjay Bangar believes Virat Kohli would improve in the India-New Zealand ODI series.
The Blues will play three ODIs against the Black Caps, starting in Hyderabad on January 18. Kohli enters the series with three hundred in his last four ODI innings.
Bangar answered to a question on Star Sports’ “Game Plan” on whether Virat Kohli may beat Ricky Ponting’s record for most ODI tonnes against the Kiwis:
He excelled in the T20 World Cup in Australia after shedding the captaincy and regaining form. I believe Virat Kohli will improve and sustain his ODI form.”
The former Indian batting coach said:
“His batting rhythm and enthusiasm are encouraging signals.” Because he knows his game, Virat Kohli maximises it when he is in such a mentality and batting with such rhythm.
Kohli has five hundreds against the Kiwis in 26 ODIs. He trails Ponting and Virender Sehwag, who have six centuries each.
Sanjay Bangar on Virat Kohli’s struggle against New Zealand spinners: “Don’t talk about Santner and Ish Sodhi.”
In 2021 T20 World Cup, Ish Sodhi dismissed Virat Kohli.
Bangar responded to a question on Kohli’s forthcoming series against Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi:
Don’t mention Santner and Ish Sodhi because Rashid Khan witnessed him get a century against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. After that, Wanindu Hasaranga and Theekshana tried their best, but I see two special things in his game.”
According to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head coach, the Kiwi spinners won’t bother the franchise’s former skipper:
“He is using his feet and playing really effectively, he used to play like that when he was a young kid, and then he is going on the back foot and hitting gaps, whether midwicket or cover gap. He’s playing spin differently now, so Santner and Sodhi won’t bother him.”
Santner has only dismissed Kohli in ODIs. The Indian batting backbone has lost three times to Sodhi and has a 29.67 average against him.
