Adam Zampa expects Virat Kohli to be more switched on in Rajkot

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa on Thursday said that one needs to have a “strong character” to dismiss the class player like India captain Virat Kohli. However, Kohli was dismissed six times in limited-overs cricket so far by the spinner. Although Zampa is enjoying an upper hand over the Indian captain, he believes Kohli is a hard nut to crack. Zampa has removed Kohli four times in ODIs and twice in the T20s.

“It’s going to be an attacking approach. I think if you’re on the back-foot and have a defensive mindset then that’s when he (Kohli) can get on top of you. The most important thing playing in places like India against these guys is to have a little bit of character,“ said Zampa before the second ODI.

“You probably know you’re going to get hit for boundaries but it can really get worse if you make that affect you. I have got him a few times now but I don’t think there is anything in it. He still scores at over 100 (strike rate) against me,” the 27-year-old leg-spinner added. “He is a very hard guy to bowl to. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever had to bowl to. After game one (first ODI), he will be even more switched on. It will be a big challenge.”

Earlier, Virat Kohli praised Adam Zampa as the leg-spinner had more belief in him than other bowlers. However, Zampa liked that a lot. He further added that they have found the weak point of India captain as well.

“It’s a big compliment from Virat. I’m not the most skillful leg-spinner in the world. Guys like Kuldeep Yadav and Rashid Khan are guys that are really hard to pick. But one thing I have always tried to do is have a strong character,” he shared.

He further added that they have found the weak point of India captain as well. Even they would love to try those in the second game too.

“We basically just found that Virat finds leg-spinners hard to line up early in his innings. He’s such a great starter, even the other day he was 16 of 14. How much energy he brought to the crease, his running between the wickets, some of the cover drives he played off the quicks,” he said.

“I think it’s important to try and have a game plan against him. So we figured out before the last game that it would be good to start with leg-spin to him. I’ve got him out four times in the last year or so it’s nice to have that confidence to bowl to him at the start of his innings,” said Zampa, who came on his third tour to India.