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Virat Kohli explains reason for failure vs James Anderson during India’s tour of England 2014

Kohli was dismissed by Anderson four times in five Tests, wherein the right-hander managed only 134 runs.

Virat Kohli managed only 134 runs from five Tests against England in 2014 © Getty Images
Virat Kohli managed only 134 runs from five Tests against England in 2014 © Getty Images

Virat Kohli has blamed himself for not having a counter plan against ace England pacer James Anderson during India’s tour in 2014, wherein the Indian run machine flopped miserably as the tourists lost the five-Test series 3-1.

Kohli, who was expected to carry India on his shoulders having had a good run till the tour, had a miserable run as he struggled against the moving ball and Anderson, the one who can move the ball both ways, had the Indian batsman on his knees. READ: Virat Kohli’s dismissals playing on his mind

Kohli was dismissed by Anderson four times in five Tests, wherein the right-hander managed only 134 runs from 10 innings, at a forgettable run rate of 13.40. Kohli failed to score a half-century, with his highest being 39. Twice, he was dismissed for a duck.

The Indian cricketer, who is now the captain of their Test side, told ESPNCricinfo’s The Cricket Monthly, “It was more of me not having a counter-plan for whatever he [James Anderson] or the England team was planning for me. It was more a matter of that than me thinking he was one particular bowler I was not comfortable facing.”

“Obviously he is a world-class bowler. He swings the ball both ways and has troubled a lot of batsmen in the past. I feel I should have had a different plan. I kept standing in the same position. I kept getting out the same way,” Kohli added. READ: An open letter to Virat Kohli

The 26-year-old said that being a slight change to his technique helped him bounce back on India’s next Test assignment, a tough tour of Australia.

“That is why when I went to Australia I decided to bat outside my crease. I decided to stand on middle stump and shuffle on to off stump because I am cutting any sort of advantage to the bowler if he pitches in the good-length area. I was able to drive balls on the up because I was already in the position to do so. So I thought I did not do anything about the way I was getting out in England, and that was what was disappointing for me,” Kohli explained.

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