“I'm confident he will come back with better plans”- Abhishek Nayar on Virat Kohli ahead of second ODI in Adelaide

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has shown confidence in veteran India batter Virat Kohli making a brilliant comeback after failure in the first ODI between India and Australia in Perth on October 19. The second ODI will be played in Adelaide on October 23.

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Virat Kohli made an eight-ball duck on his comeback to the Indian team after seven months. Mitchell Starc was bowling brilliantly, and the Australians built tight fields, which denied Virat some easy singles. Virat's stay in Perth ended when he tried to get off to a spectacular start with a dazzling drive on an outside off-stump delivery. Cooper Connolly's incredible diving grab stunned fans who had been waiting months to see the icon score some runs.

Speaking on 'Cricket Live,' JioStar expert Nayar said, "The discussion will always be around playing square of the wicket in Australia. With the extra pace, bounce, and lateral movement on offer, you want to let the ball come to you and play it late and behind the body. That is slightly different from what Virat has traditionally done here. He is someone who likes to take charge, walk towards the bowlers, and play in straighter areas. Today was a different challenge."

“He’ll go back, study his video, and come back well.” - Abhishek Nayar on Virat Kohli

The pattern Virat experienced during his last Test assignment for India, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which also took place in Australia, was repeated when he fell to an outside off-stump delivery. Throughout the series, he fell victim to the 'outside off-stump' trap, which Scott Boland most frequently employed.

"Mitchell Starc seemed one step ahead; he did not go for the full and fast deliveries we are used to seeing, but instead, hit the pitch hard and went across the batter. Yes, there were definite plans against Virat. In white-ball cricket, unlike the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where there was more grass and movement, this was about variation in pace and angles. I am sure Virat will go back, study his videos, and look at adjustments; maybe playing deeper in the crease or later towards third man could be better options. We saw him work on that during the BGT, and I'm confident he will reflect, adapt, and come back with better plans to deliver the runs we all expect from him," he added.

The second ODI between Australia and India will be played in Adelaide on October 23.

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