Another innings had a familiar end. Virat Kohli’s penchant for chasing deliveries outside the off stump proved costly yet again, as Josh Hazlewood claimed his prized wicket with an indistinguishable script. A full delivery dangled outside off, tempting Kohli into a drive he simply couldn’t resist. The result? A faint outside edge snapped up effortlessly by Alex Carey behind the stumps, leaving India in a precarious position.
Virat Kohli, please start the “art” of leaving!
Team India was in dire straits already when Virat Kohli walked out at the Gabba. Australia hammered a humongous first-innings total of 445 runs in the first innings and the wicket wasn’t offering a whole lot of things when India were bowling. But then, something changed. The inconsistent downpour and the hard new Kookarburra left the Indian batters in trouble, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill handing straight catches to Mitchell Marsh.
Then came Kohli, who would’ve liked to bat at this surface. The pitch didn’t offer lateral movement, but there was a steep bounce to tackle. Kohli, who loves to bat when the ball comes hard at him, shot once again in his foot. This dismissal is emblematic of a recurring issue in Kohli’s game.
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His refusal to leave balls in the channel outside off continues to undermine his innings and, by extension, it hugely affects the team as well. Hazlewood’s ploy was nothing new; it’s a method every team has employed time and again to expose Kohli’s vulnerability. Yet, despite his stature as one of the game’s finest, Kohli’s reluctance to adapt is becoming a pressing concern. For a player of his calibre and how much success he has achieved, Kohli needs to understand that it is quite easy for him to dismiss. Many fans are calling him to retire as well. But we should leave the outlandish outburst on social media aside.
Lowest Test average in 1st innings (2024) ft. Virat Kohli
| Player | Average |
|---|---|
| Tom Blundell | 13.17 |
| Tim Southee | 13.18 |
| Virat Kohli | 13.22 |
| Matt Henry | 15.78 |
| Mitchell Starc | 16.00 |
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