India vs Australia: Virat Kohli’s woeful run against deliveries outside the off-stump continued at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as he once again poked at a delivery on the sixth stump, giving a simple catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Coming in after tea, following the dismissal of KL Rahul, Virat Kohli looked in good touch at the MCG, unlike in his previous few innings.
The 36-year-old played the waiting game, left the ball outside off, and drove the loose deliveries to the boundaries. Virat Kohli was looking at his very best in Australian conditions, which he is known for.
In the process, Virat Kohli, in the company of Yashasvi Jaiswal, added 102 runs for the third wicket as the duo looked to take India through to Day 2. However, a horrible mix-up between Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal broke the partnership, costing the latter his wicket for 82.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s run-out broke Virat Kohli’s concentration, and for the first time after 85 balls, the former India captain poked at a delivery bowled in the corridor of uncertainty, and that was the end. At the end of Day 2, India was 164/5, with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease.
What happened between Kohli and Jaiswal?
On the last ball of the 41st over, Yashasvi Jaiswal pushed Scott Boland towards mid-on and called for a quick single. Virat Kohli, at the other end, took a step and a half before retreating. Australian captain Pat Cummins swooped in on the ball and threw it to the striker’s end, with a frustrated Yashasvi Jaiswal seen telling his idol, “My call”.
Netizens lambast Virat Kohli
Kohli’s act didn’t go down well with his fans, who flooded social media with negative messages. Not only did they blame Kohli for Jaiswal’s dismissal, but they also highlighted the Indian batter’s weakness against deliveries wide of the off-stump.
“First, get the set batsman run out and then poke at the 6th stump delivery and get out yourself… Kohli and Sharma are both struggling, not on the pitch, but in their minds,” wrote one user.
Another user wrote, “Virats fault. If he backs up, theres a run. What batsmas barely backs up and watches the shot go behind them to say no ? Ball behing sqaure = runner ups call. Ball infront of square = batsman on strikes call. SIC”
“Jasiwal is run out by Kohli wrong call,” posted another user.
