Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Former India coach Ravi Shastri termed Virat Kohli’s dismissal in the Nagpur Test against Australia as unfortunate.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 10, 2023 15:28 IST
Virat Kohli was unlucky: Ravi Shastri on star batter’s dismissal in Nagpur (AP Photo)
By India Today Web Desk: Former India coach Ravi Shastri opened up on Virat Kohli’s dismissal on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test against Australia, saying that it was an unfortunate way to get out and one should not talk about his technique against off-spinners.
Kohli was dismissed by debutant Todd Murphy on the first ball after lunch. Kohli, who came in to bat after Cheteshwar Pujara, top-edged a sweep shot to short fine leg in the morning session on Friday and hit a couple of confident straight drives for four runs before the break. But he was dismissed soon after the second session began.
“That’s unlucky. That’s strangled down the leg side. I mean once in 50 innings he will get out in that fashion. Let’s not talk about technique or an off-spinner getting him out. Forget all that. He is out, bad luck, but it was the right thing from Australia’s point of view because they needed a wicket. Straight up after that, you get the momentum going,” Ravi Shastri told Star Sports at the tea break show on Day 2 of the Nagpur Test.
Murphy’s delivery spun a little as it pitched around the leg stump. Kohli went for the flick shot and ended up edging it straight to Australian keeper Alex Carey, who demonstrated great reflexes to hold on to a sharp catch despite a juggle. Kohli walked back to the pavilion with his head down, having scored 12 off 26 balls as Australia began to mount a comeback in the Test match thanks to a debutant.
Kohli did not score a single half-century in the three Test matches he played against Australia in home conditions in 2017. Kohli’s highest score in the 2017 Australia series was 15 in the second Test match at Bangalore, but India won the series thanks to Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round performance.
