Virat Kohli’s dismissal in the first innings of the ongoing ICC WTC Final between India and Australia at the Oval has triggered a debate in the cricket fraternity.
The former India skipper failed to score big and was sent back by Mitchell Starc for just 14 runs. The right-handed batsman was looking in good touch before a rising delivery ended his stay at the crease. The delivery from Starc took Kohli by surprise and all he could do was edge the ball behind the stumps to Steve Smith in the slips.
Virat Kohli’s dismissal further deteriorated India’s position in the game. He was the fourth Indian wicket to fall with just 71 runs on the scoreboard. Before his dismissal, the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara failed to do well with the bat too.
Sanjay Manjrekar on Virat Kohli’s dismissal:
Following Virat Kohli’s dismissal, many have opined that it was an unplayable delivery from Starc to the India star. On the other hand, several experts have come up with a different opinion, saying that the former India skipper could have avoided the dismissal with a better technique.
One of those experts is former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar. Speaking ton ESPNcricinfo, the former batsman-turned-commentator pointed out that in recent years, Kohli commits to the front foot no matter what the situation is. Manjrekar opined that it was a short ball from Starc and Kohli could have played it better if both of his feet were not outside the crease.
“Now a lot was being said about the ball that was bowled but but I looked at the pitch map that I got from our in-house team and the ball has actually pitched halfway,” Manjrekar said.
“It’s a short ball. And if you see Virat Kohli, that’s his position. We’ve got the still image of that particular shot that got him on the glove but that’s the problem I’ve had with Virat Kohli for the last couple of years where he’s on the front foot no matter what.
That ball is short. Unfortunately, it’s reared up from that length but when you are getting onto the front foot, that back foot – you don’t see the crease there, but the back foot, I am telling you, is outside the front crease.
“So, both his legs are outside the crease and he’s trying to negotiate a ball that has reared from halfway down the pitch,” he added.
‘On the front foot, no matter what’
Was that ball from Starc too good for any batter? ? #WTCFinal #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/MKyzzBp3US
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 9, 2023
Meanwhile, India ended day 2 on 151 for 5 with Ajinkya Rahane and KS Bharat at the crease. With India still trailing Australia’s first innings total by 318 runs, the duo would be looking to stitch together a big stand.