Kohli-Pandya emulate Tendulkar-Dravid’s tactics to counter reverse swing of South African bowlers

Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya found the perfect way to counter Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel's reverse swing tactics on Day 2

By: Arun Rawal |
January 15, 2018 12:25 pm

The stump mics during ongoing India vs South Africa Test series have been helpful to determine certain tactics of the players and at the same time, recorded a few hilarious exchanges. Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya devised a strategy to counter South African bowlers’ plan to use the reverse swing as a weapon with the old ball in the last session of the game.

Kohli and Pandya did what former Indian legendary batsmen did to New Zealand bowlers over a decade ago in a Test match. They used signals to tell the batsman on strike which way the ball was going to swing.

In layman’s language, reverse swing is possible when the ball is rubbed from one side in order to counter its shine, which later leads to the ball swinging towards the polished part irrespective of the bowler’s effort to swing it the other way. This makes it tough for the batsman to pick the direction where he wants the ball to swing.

Here’s how the conversation between the two went (Courtesy: Cricbuzz)-

Kohli: Yahan pe change kiya (He changed it in this delivery)

Hardik: Andar ke liye leke hi bhaagaa tha (He started to run with the one that would drift in)

Kohli: Jo leke niklega agar change karega toh uska opposite hai (The side of the ball he runs in with, if he changes, the movement will be opposite)

Hardik: Main bataaun aapko? (Should I tell you on what he is doing?)

Kohli: Nahin nahin, mujhe dikha, main bataa raha hun. [No, no.. I picked it, I am just telling you the strategy]

Here’s the video of the above conversation –

Part 2: VK makes a change in his mysterious strategy for a last second change in seam position pic.twitter.com/pSGSidP218

— anshul kothari (@slimshady_ansh) January 14, 2018

Part 1: This is interesting!! Kohli-Pandya devise a mysterious plan to encounter reverse swing via foot gestures pic.twitter.com/eDC2B4NWxV

— anshul kothari (@slimshady_ansh) January 14, 2018

ALSO READ: Viral video of Virat Kohli using cuss words during live match is reminding Twitterati of ‘gully’ cricket

Tendulkar revealed the tactics used by Kohli-Pandya in an event last year. It helped Dravid and Tendulkar to counter Cairns’ swing who was beating them at least on two occasions in an over. Here’s the video of Tendulkar’s revelations –

ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya takes a superb diving catch in outfield after dropped chances, celebrates in style

There was a lot of chatter going on in the third session as India ended on 183 for 5 at Day 2 at stumps. Same is expected on Day 3 as well as India still trail by 152 runs, with Kohli leading the batting lineup with an individual score of 80 runs from 130 balls.