Senior India batsman Virat Kohli had a short stay at the crease in India’s first innings in the WTC Final 2023 against Austalia at The Oval.
On Day 2, after Australia posted 469, India found themselves in early trouble, losing both openers for 30 runs. The next two batters – Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli – too couldn’t stop the wickets parade for long and were dismissed for 14 runs each.
The Australian seamers were relentless with their lines and lengths, and targetted the stumps more often than the Indian pacers did. Virat Kohli, in particular, got a snorter of a delivery from Mitchell Starc. From over the wicket angle, Starc bowled a vicious back of length ball that lifted like a snake and surprised Virat, who poked at it just outside the off-stump and edged it to Steve Smith in slips.
Kohli’s stay – of 14 runs in 31 balls with 2 boundaries to his name – came to an end, leaving India tattering at 71/4, and in the face of conceding a follow-on now.
Sri Lankan journalist Daniel Alexander who is known for his trolling and criticism of Team India, BCCI, and Kohli, took a dig as the former India skipper on Twitter.
“India sent tea boy Kohli after 2 quick wickets just before the tea break. Tea is fantastic!” Daniel Alexander tweeted.
Indian fans slammed this Sri Lankan journalist Daniel Alexander back for his dig at KING Virat Kohli.
Australia continue their domination in the World Test Championship Final 2023.
In the morning session, Steve Smith brought up his century and Travis Head his 150. Even as India restricted Australia to less than 500, bowling them out for 469, the Indian top order faltered.
Captain Rohit Sharma made 15, Shubman Gill scored 13, while Pujara and Kohli scored 14 runs each. Ravindra Jadeja counter-attacked with 48 runs off 51 balls before getting out to Nathan Lyon. At stumps on Day 2, Ajinkya Rahane is unbeaten on 29, joined by KS Bharat, on 5*, and India trail by 318 runs.
