‘No need to play that’ - Virat Kohli slammed by former Indian stars after yet another failure

Indian batter Virat Kohli has been called out for his consistent failures against deliveries outside the off stump. The former India skipper was out for just three runs while attempting a drive to a full ball from Josh Hazlewood. Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar was livid at the dismissal, as that left India in tatters. 

The former Indian star made his feelings clear during his chat on Channel 7, where he said, “If it was on the fourth stump, I could understand. This was wide on the seventh, eighth stump, you could say. There's no need to play that.”

Even in the last game in Adelaide, Virat Kohli was guilty of playing deliveries targeted outside the off-stump. Kohli played 16 balls on Monday before becoming the first victim of Josh Hazlewood, who had missed the last game due to injury. 

Sunil Gavaskar was also heard saying, “He'd be very, very disappointed; he'd be very upset with that. Even before Rishabh Pant faced a ball, the rain started to come down and the covers had come on. If Kohli had shown a bit of patience, he could be not out with KL Rahul.”

Sanjay Manjrekar questions India’s coaching on social media

Yet another former India star who was unimpressed with the manner of Kohli’s dismissal was Sanjay Manjrekar. Taking to his Twitter handle, Manjrekar wrote, “I guess the time has come to scrutinise the role of a batting coach in the Indian team. Why major technical issues have remained unresolved for so long with certain Indian batters.”

I guess the time has come to scrutinise the role of a batting coach in the Indian team. Why major technical issues have remained unresolved for so long with certain Indian batters. @BCCI

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 16, 2024

Noted Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta, meanwhile, slammed India’s top order, who perished playing expansive shots. “I am really afraid this Australian tour will tear many (inflated) reputations apart. For a side that won the first Test, the fall has been shocking. Just look at how all 3—Jaiswal, Gill, Kohli perished playing shots—very disappointing,” wrote Vikrant Gupta. 

Am really afraid this Australian tour will tear many (inflated) reputations apart. For a side that won the first Test, the fall has been shocking. Just look at how all 3, Jaiswal, Gill, Kohli have perished playing shots - very disappointing. #INDvsAUS #GabbaTest

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 16, 2024

Yashasvi Jaiswal began his innings with a boundary off the first ball. Mitchell Starc’s fuller ball on the pads produced a flick shot off Jaiswal that was caught by Marsh at mid-wicket. The same pair struck again to dismiss Shubman Gill, who flayed a wide ball only for Marsh to take a stunning catch. When the downpour began, KL Rahul was batting with Rohit Sharma as India’s hopes rested on the veteran duo.