We need to develop a game plan to tackle Kohli: Jayawardene – Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737, who proved instrumental in India’s recent 21-run victory over the Lankans in the first ODI
of the ongoing 5-match series, played on July 21 in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota.
“I think initially when he started his career we picked his wicket quickly,” Jayawardene observed. “But like any good player he has come up with a game plan and he is executing that pretty well. Just the last few occasions he has got more confident against
our bowling attack. It's up to us now to come up with a game plan.”
Kohli made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in a 5-match series during August 2008, and his initial scores against the side included 12, 37, 25, 54, and 31. However, he went on to smash his first ODI century (107) against the Lankans, during Sri Lanka’s tour
of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in December 2009, and has since displayed superb form against Jayawardene’s men.
The 23-year-old has recently been on a roll, having scored 4 centuries in his last five one-day matches – three of which have come against Sri Lanka. Playing their last match in the Commonwealth Bank series Down Under against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in February this year,
Kohli proved to be the only highlight in what was a lost cause, smashing a valiant unbeaten 133 despite the team’s impending ouster from the competition.
His achievement earned him the post of vice-captain, despite the presence of many far more experienced players in the squad. However, he justified the appointment in his next one-day, also against the Lankans, in the Asia Cup hosted by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 this March,
when he scored yet another century – a 108 – and despite the Men In Blue’s inability to make it to the tournament final, rounded off their Asia Cup campaign with a massive 183 against arch-rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
Despite the fact that the most recent match in Hambantota marks Kohli’s first ODI after roughly 3 months, the right-hander appears to be in top form, having scored a resounding 106 in addition to establishing a 173-run stand with veteran batsman Virender
Sehwag (96). Their efforts enabled their side to post a daunting total of 314, which the Lankans were ultimately unable to chase.
With the second ODI scheduled to be played at the same venue today on July 24, Jayawardene’s men will be looking to find a way to subdue the fiery Indian batsman and bring the series score up to 1-1.
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