Why virat kohli can't play sweep shots ?

 Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world today. He has a formidable record in all formats of the game and has been praised for his technique and aggression. However, there is one shot that Kohli seems to struggle with - the sweep shot. In this blog post, we will explore why Kohli can't play sweep shots and what he can do to improve his game.

Front Foot Dominance:

One of the reasons why Kohli struggles to play the sweep shot is his front foot dominance. Kohli is known for his excellent footwork and likes to get onto the front foot to play his shots. However, the sweep shot requires the batsman to play off the back foot and hit the ball on the leg side. Kohli's front foot movement can often lead him to play across the line of the ball, resulting in mistimed shots or even getting out lbw.

Example: During India's tour of South Africa in 2018, Kohli was dismissed lbw twice in a Test match while attempting the sweep shot against left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Both times, he was caught on the front foot and failed to make contact with the ball.

Technique:

Kohli's technique is another reason why he struggles with the sweep shot. Kohli likes to play the ball under his eyes and keep his head still while batting. However, when playing the sweep shot, the batsman needs to move his head and eyes towards the ball, which can disrupt his technique. Kohli's tendency to play with a vertical bat also makes it difficult for him to get into the right position to play the sweep shot.

Example: During the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, Kohli was dismissed while attempting to play a sweep shot off spinner Shadab Khan. He misjudged the length of the ball and played across the line, resulting in a top-edge that was caught by the wicketkeeper.

Pre-Meditation:

The sweep shot is a high-risk shot that requires the batsman to premeditate the shot and commit to it early. Kohli's style of play is based on playing the ball late and waiting for the ball to come to him. This can make it difficult for him to premeditate the sweep shot and commit to it early enough, resulting in mistimed shots or getting out to the fielder positioned for the shot.

Example: During the 2014 Test series against Australia, Kohli was dismissed while attempting the sweep shot against spinner Nathan Lyon. He was caught at deep square leg, indicating that the fielder was positioned for the sweep shot and Kohli had premeditated the shot, making it an easy catch.

Opposition Tactics:

Another reason why Kohli struggles with the sweep shot is due to opposition tactics. Teams have identified Kohli's weakness against the sweep shot and have started to bowl to him in a way that makes it difficult for him to play the shot. Spinners have started to bowl quicker and flatter, denying Kohli the time to get into position to play the shot.

Example: During India's tour of England in 2018, Kohli struggled against off-spinner Moeen Ali, who bowled quicker and flatter to deny Kohli the opportunity to play the sweep shot. Kohli was dismissed twice in the Test series while attempting the shot.

Limited Range of Shots:

Kohli is known for his limited range of shots and likes to play within his comfort zone. He prefers to play the conventional cricketing shots such as cover drive, square cut, and pull shot. However, the sweep shot is not a conventional cricketing shot and requires the batsman to have a wider range of shots. Kohli's reluctance to play the unorthodox shots can make it difficult for him to play the sweep shot with confidence.

Example: During the 2019 World Cup, Kohli was dismissed while attempting to play a reverse sweep shot against spinner Adam Zampa. He was caught at short third man, indicating that he had premeditated the shot and failed to execute it properly.

Lack of Practice:

Another reason why Kohli struggles with the sweep shot is due to the lack of practice. Kohli is known for his intense training regime and spends a lot of time in the nets practicing his shots. However, he may not have focused enough on the sweep shot and may not have practiced it enough to develop the necessary skills.

Example: During the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL), Kohli was caught at short fine leg while attempting the sweep shot against leg-spinner Rahul Chahar. He later admitted in an interview that he hadn't practiced the shot enough and had made a mistake while attempting it.

Mental Block:

Lastly, Kohli's struggles with the sweep shot could also be due to a mental block. Kohli is known for his aggressive and confident approach to batting, but the sweep shot can be a challenging shot to play. Kohli may have developed a mental block against the shot, which can make it difficult for him to play it with confidence.

Example: During India's tour of England in 2014, Kohli was dismissed while attempting the sweep shot against spinner Moeen Ali. He was caught at deep backward square leg, indicating that he had not picked up the line and length of the ball properly. After the match, Kohli admitted that he had struggled with the sweep shot due to a mental block and needed to work on it.

In conclusion, Kohli's struggles with the sweep shot can be attributed to a variety of reasons, including his front foot dominance, technique, premeditation, opposition tactics, limited range of shots, lack of practice, and mental block. To improve his game, Kohli needs to work on his back foot game, hand-eye coordination, and practice the sweep shot more often to develop the necessary skills and confidence.