Virat Kohli is bowled during day two of the second cricket Test between India and New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday. (AP Photo)
Virat Kohli’s dismissal for one run in the first innings of the second Test of the series against New Zealand in Pune highlighted his woes against spin bowling.
The prolific India star was out on his ninth ball: while trying to hit a full toss from Mitchell Santner to square leg, he missed the ball completely and it hit his stumps.
After the end of the opening session on Friday, former India coach Anil Kumble suggested that playing some domestic cricket could have helped Kohli. He did specify that not playing domestic cricket was not the only reason behind the bizarre dismissal.
“Perhaps just one or two innings in a match situation could have helped. Being in an actual game is definitely more beneficial than just practice; it gives an upper hand. If he feels that playing earlier would have benefited him, and the team management agrees, then maybe it would have. However, I don’t think we can look at that as the only reason for his struggles against spin,” Indian cricket legend Kumble said on JioCinema after India were tottering at 107/7 at the end of the opening session.
Kohli has notably been dismissed 21 times in 26 innings against spinners in Asia in the past three years, with an average of 28.
Kumble went on to add: “When he’s (Kohli) has come to the crease, pitches have often favored spin, which is a significant factor. His challenges against spin at the start of his innings haven’t been solely due to mindset but also conditions that aided spinners. This contributed to the dismissals of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli to the left-arm spin of Glenn Phillips, who was brought on as a strategic move. Even the best modern-day batters find these situations tricky.”
India were bundled out for 156 in the first innings in reply to New Zealand’s first innings total of 259.
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