Saba Karim reckons Virat Kohli got slightly exposed due to a technical deficiency in India’s second innings of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. He pointed out that the modern batting great Virat Kohli allowed the ball to turn by placing his pads away from the line of the delivery.
At the same time, there were suggestions of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the Duleep Trophy, as part of the preparations for the Bangladesh and New Zealand series. But, none of the four featured in the domestic competition, much to the disappointment of some experts.
Team India’s catastrophic performance against New Zealand in the 3-match Test series against New Zealand has raised many questions about the players’ preparation. India comprehensively defeated Bangladesh in a 2-match Test series before gearing up for the New Zealand assignment.
Virat Kohli’s forgettable series against New Zealand on home soil
India batter Virat Kohli had a forgettable series as New Zealand completed a historic 3-0 whitewash against the hosts in Mumbai on Sunday.
Chasing a 147-run target, India suffered a sharp top-order wobble with Virat Kohli undone by a sharp, ripping delivery from left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. Virat Kohli only totaled five runs in the match, ending the series with 93 runs at a 15.50 average – his lowest across any home series in his career where he has played at least six innings.
Virat Kohli was subject to a trial by the left-arm spinners with Mitchell Santner dismissing him twice in the second Test in Pune, followed by Patel’s strike in Mumbai. Virat Kohli, who turns 36 on Tuesday, has been in a rough patch with his last Test hundred coming back in July 2023 in the West Indies.
Saba Karim discusses Virat Kohli’s dismissal in IND vs NZ 2024 3rd Test
Saba Karim reckons Virat Kohli got slightly exposed due to a technical deficiency in India’s second innings of the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. He pointed out that the modern batting great allowed the ball to turn by placing his pads away from the line of the delivery.
Kohli managed a solitary run before being caught at slip by Daryl Mitchell off Ajaz Patel’s bowling. India were bundled out for 121 in pursuit of a 147-run target on Sunday, November 3, and lost the game by 25 runs.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Saba was asked about his thoughts on Kohli’s dismissal.
“He was practicing this morning how to bat against left-arm spin. So the clarity was there in Virat Kohli’s mind when he went out to bat. He played too much inside the line. In the last three Test matches, he has tried to take the bat and not the pad in the left-arm spinner’s line. That positive intent is always there and he is always on the lookout for singles,” he responded.
“Here also the footwork was correct but the ball to which he got out, I feel he played too much inside the line, and that’s why he couldn’t negotiate the ball when it turned. He got a little exposed. When he brought the bat, the ball got the time to turn and that’s why it got the outside edge,” the former India selector added.
Saba noted that Kohli failed to follow the main mantra of playing spin on turning pitches.
“We keep saying that this is basic but it’s not that easy to implement it. If you haven’t practiced playing on such wickets, it takes time to develop the skill. On spinning tracks, the main mantra is that you have to take the bat in the line of the spinner’s ball. You cannot play for the spin,” he explained.
Saba Karim pointed out that batters got beaten numerous times in the Mumbai Test despite not making any mistakes. He added that batters will continue to get beaten on such wickets, but the chances of getting edges are enhanced if they play inside or outside the line. Virat Kohli had a horror run in the three Tests against New Zealand. He aggregated 93 runs at a paltry average of 15.50 in six innings, with a 70-run knock in India’s second innings of the first Test in Bengaluru being his only half-century.