Speaking after India's semi-final victory in the Champions Trophy, Agar described Kohli\u2019s innings of 84 as a \"masterclass\" in game management, highlighting how his ability to find gaps and keep the scoreboard moving makes it nearly impossible to build pressure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"That\u2019s the frustrating part about bowling to him,\" Agar said on ESPNcricinfo\u2019s Match Day show. \"It\u2019s not just the damage he does with boundaries\u2014it\u2019s the fact that you can\u2019t build pressure on him. You never really feel like you\u2019re on top of him unless the ball is really spinning. And you don\u2019t get a lot of pitches like that in one-day cricket.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli\u2019s 84 off 98 balls was the backbone of India\u2019s chase as they overhauled Australia\u2019s 264 with four wickets in hand. More than the strokeplay, it was his ability to keep the scoreboard ticking that frustrated the Australian bowlers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli\u2019s innings was a masterclass in running between the wickets. Of his 84 runs, 64 came from singles and twos, a testament to his ability to keep the innings flowing without taking unnecessary risks. Agar pointed out that Kohli\u2019s technique against spin, especially his ability to place the ball perfectly, makes him one of the hardest batters to bowl to.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"He has this fantastic ability to hit your best ball\u2014the top of middle stump, slightly spinning away\u2014by holding the bat\u2019s face slightly longer than others do. He opens it at the last second and hits it in the cover-point gap. He\u2019s probably the best in the world at doing that, and it\u2019s very difficult to build pressure on him.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Against Australia\u2019s leg-spinners Tanveer Sangha and Adam Zampa, Kohli was clinical, scoring 35 off 33 balls against the pair. Though he eventually fell to Zampa, his work was already done by then, putting India in a commanding position.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For a period, Kohli had struggled to rotate strike against spin, but former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar observed that his footwork and shot selection were back to their best.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"There was a time when he couldn\u2019t rotate strike against spin as well as he does against pace. But today\u2019s innings showed that he\u2019s put that issue behind him,\" Manjrekar said. \"His ability to play off the back foot and find gaps was the best we saw in this game.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former India captain Anil Kumble also praised Kohli for his control in run chases, emphasizing how he makes tricky targets look easy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"He rarely makes a mistake,\" Kumble said. \"Especially in run chases, he\u2019s totally in control. He absorbs pressure brilliantly and never looks flustered.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former India captain Anil Kumble also praised Kohli for his control in run chases, emphasizing how he makes tricky targets look easy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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