INDIA: In the ongoing World Test Championship final between India and Australia, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has provided insightful analysis on the dismissal of Indian captain Virat Kohli.
Gavaskar pointed out what went wrong with Kohli’s technique during his dismissal at the hands of Mitchell Starc on the second day of the match.
During India’s first innings, a rising short ball from Starc struck the shoulder of Kohli’s bat, resulting in a catch taken by Steve Smith at second slip. Gavaskar observed that Kohli’s positioning on the front foot left him unable to handle such a delivery effectively.
According to Gavaskar, being on the backfoot would have given Kohli more time to assess the ball’s trajectory and make a decision whether to play or leave it.
Gavaskar further explained that the restriction of only two bouncers per over in modern cricket has led most batsmen to favour the front-foot approach.
However, this diminishes their ability to get onto the backfoot and create the additional yard of space required to manoeuvre such deliveries. Kohli’s weight was so heavily committed to the front foot that he couldn’t retract his bat in time to avoid the dismissal.
India’s top-order batsmen struggled collectively in the match, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli all failing to make a significant impact with the bat.
Gavaskar stressed the importance of the batsmen standing up, particularly on a challenging pitch like the one encountered in the final.
While acknowledging the superb performance of the Indian bowlers in restricting Australia to 469 runs in their first innings, Gavaskar emphasized that it was crucial for the Indian batsmen to rise to the occasion.
The challenging conditions demanded a strong batting display, and the top-order’s inability to deliver put the Indian team under pressure.
As the WTC final continues, the Indian team will be looking to recover from their early wickets and establish a solid partnership to stabilize their innings.
Kohli’s dismissal serves as a valuable lesson for the Indian batsmen, urging them to adapt their technique and play with greater caution against the rising short balls.
The cricketing world eagerly awaits the response from the Indian team, hoping for a strong comeback and a thrilling contest in the highly anticipated World Test Championship final.
Also Read: WTC Final IND Vs AUS: Australia on Front Foot as India Trails by 318 Runs on Day 2
