The veteran player suggested that Kohli might no longer possess the big-hitting ability to dominate bowlers at will
New Delhi: Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said Kohli's lean run in Australia has left him in a "tight corner," affecting his confidence.
"He still wants to show that he's up there for a fight, and I am starting to see maybe there's a little bit of bravado as well, and why not? You can't be revealing what's inside you."
He suggested that Kohli might no longer possess the big-hitting ability to dominate bowlers at will.
"Virat doesn't have the big game anymore. We've seen on occasion him playing the big shot, but he can't hit at will like a Shubman Gill does."
Kohli made an unbeaten 100 in the second innings in the first Test in Australia in Perth, but has struggled in the rest of the series.
"What happened is, after that hundred in Australia, had he just carried on that form� you know it's a confidence thing as well - when you're out of form and you don't have confidence you suddenly don't quite get that power and the courage to hit the big shots. At this stage, I'm looking at him and feel that he is down on confidence."
Kohli's struggles against spin encouraged the slow bowlers to be aggressive against him, feels Manjrekar.
"When he comes into bat, the spinners come on. And once the spinners know that you're not going to be hitting them for three sixes straight down the pitch or over midwicket... they bowl the kind of deliveries they'll get wickets off because they don't fear backlash from the batter.
"So he's cornered in a way. What he needed in this tournament are flat pitches like the ones in Pakistan. But if he finds a way out of this and he finds another peak of Virat Kohli, that will tell you a lot more about the man and how he's built," he added.
Self-imposed pressure hindering Kohli's return to form, says India former head coach
Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble feels Virat Kohli is putting a "lot more pressure on himself" in his effort to get out of the lean patch, and advised the batting icon to remain mentally relaxed.
