India vs New Zealand: Virat Kohli’s Struggles and Footwork Woes Highlight India’s Historic Test Whitewash Against New Zealand
India’s Test series against New Zealand ended in a historic 3-0 whitewash, with Virat Kohli’s struggles encapsulating the team’s broader issues. Kohli, dismissed for just five runs in the final match in Mumbai, managed a total of 93 runs at an average of 15.50, marking his lowest performance in any home series where he played six or more innings which raised a big question mark upon his future in the Indian test team in coming years.
The 36-year-old, whose last Test century came in July 2023, faced consistent challenges against left-arm spin. New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner dismissed Kohli twice in Pune, and Ajaz Patel got him early wicket in Mumbai with a sharp, turning delivery that epitomized Kohli’s ongoing footwork troubles.
Ian Chappell, former Australia captain, underscored Kohli’s lack of decisive footwork, citing his dismissal to a low full-toss from Santner in Pune as a prime example. Chappell remarked
“Star batter Virat Kohli’s first-inning dismissal was the perfect example of India’s lack of decisive footwork,”
Chappell wrote in his column on ESPNcricinfo
“Kohli was clean bowled by a delivery from Santner that, if the batter had taken even a small pace out of his crease, he could have hit on the full. However, instead of Kohli’s lack of decisive footwork being the culprit, his shot selection was questioned.”
He also added
“Calamitous displays against New Zealand exposed weaknesses in India’s batting. There’s no good time for batting fragility, but on the eve of a tough tour of Australia, it’s asking for trouble.”
These shocking yet logical remarks from the ex ‘Aussie Captain’ raised some crucial questions about Kohli’s future in red-ball cricket.
Comments