February 22nd 2025.
As the highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy draws near, star player Virat Kohli showed his determination by arriving at the ICC Academy two hours before the scheduled practice time. He was focused on addressing his struggles against spin bowling, which had been evident in his recent One Day International (ODI) matches.
During India's opening game against Bangladesh, Kohli was dismissed once again by a spinner, making it his sixth consecutive dismissal against spinners in ODIs. It was leg-spinner Rishad Hossain who got the better of him this time, as Kohli attempted to cut the ball and was caught at backward point. In the previous series against England, it was leg-spinner Adil Rashid who had caused trouble for Kohli.
In the upcoming match against Pakistan, Kohli will have to face the likes of Abrar Ahmed at the Dubai International Stadium. Despite his struggles, Kohli's dedication to the game is unquestionable. He arrived for training well before his teammates, who themselves had shown up an hour earlier than the scheduled time. Kohli was also the last to leave, demonstrating his exemplary work ethic.
During his training session, Kohli faced numerous spin bowlers, including leg-break, off-spin, and left-arm spinners. Pakistan also has a part-time left-arm spinner in Khushdil Shah and an off-spinner in Salman Agha. However, the Indian batters may feel confident facing the Pakistan spin attack, with the main challenge expected to come from their pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah.
While India is in a comfortable position after their win against Bangladesh, Pakistan finds themselves in a must-win situation. The pitch is expected to be on the slower side, which could bring India's spinners into the game. With five spinners in the squad, including specialists Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, and all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar, India has a strong spin arsenal at their disposal.
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