After another low score by Virat Kohli in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble said that the right-handed batter should have participated in domestic matches as well. However, the veteran also added that Kohli’s struggles against spin bowling has nothing to do with not playing domestic games as well. Notably, Kohli has one half-century in seven innings so far in India’s home season.

Speaking on Sports18, Kumble said, “Perhaps just one or two innings in a match situation could have helped. Being in an actual game is definitely more beneficial than just practice; it gives an upper hand. If he feels that playing earlier would have benefited him, and the team management agrees, then maybe it would have. However, I don’t think we can look at that as the only reason for his struggles against spin.”

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Anil Kumble also shared that the match-up of Glenn Phillips against Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill worked perfectly for the New Zealand as well.

“When he’s come to the crease, the pitches have often favored spin, which is a significant factor. His challenges against spin at the start of his innings haven’t been solely due to mindset but also conditions that aided spinners. This contributed to the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli to the left-arm spin of Glenn Phillips, who was brought on as a strategic move. Even the best modern-day batters find these situations tricky,” Anil Kumble concluded.