In Pics: Virat Kohli spotted bowling in the nets ahead of the first T20I against Australia

India's problem of sixth bowling has been going on for a long time. There was a time in Indian cricket when the likes of Sachin Tendulkar

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Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli (Image Credit: Twitter/Punjab Cricket Association)

India's problem of sixth bowling has been going on for a long time. There was a time in Indian cricket when the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina, etc used to roll their arms over. After their retirements, the team hasn't been able to find top-order batters who can bowl a few overs. When MS Dhoni led the team, Virat Kohli bowled on a few occasions.

However, in the last few years, he hasn't bowled a lot. Kohli bowled once in an ODI game against Sri Lanka way back in 2017. The lack of a sixth bowling option has created problems for the Men In Blue over the years especially when one of the frontline bowlers is having a day. Recently, they had to play Deepak Hooda in the team for the same reason in the Asia Cup 2022.

However, he didn't bowl a single over and his inclusion messed up with the playing XI. Now, even in the squad announced for the 20-20 World Cup 2022 and the home series against Australia and South Africa, the team doesn't have too many options. Meanwhile, ahead of the first T20I of the three-match series against Australia, Kohli was spotted bowling in the nets.

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Talking about the 33-year-old's T20I career, he has played 104 games in the shortest format and has bowled 25.2 overs. The right-arm medium pacer has four wickets to his name. Those wickets are of Kevin Pietersen (2011), Samit Patel (2011), Mohammad Hafeez (2012), and Johnson Charles (2016). Notably, the Delhi player has the record of picking his maiden T20I wicket on the zero ball. In 2011, he bowled a wide delivery down the leg-side which accounted for Pietersen's wicket. It will be interesting to see how he shapes up in the first T20I against Australia with the ball.

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