Although it is too early to make too much of it, the walls perhaps are closing in on Virat Kohli’s place in India’s T20I eleven. Virat Kohli is man much in need of runs and a big knock.
However, that didn’t come on Saturday, in the second T20I of the series against England at Edgbaston where the former skipper was out for just 1 run in three balls and further piled up the criticism and the pressure that comes with it on himself
Kohli, who had managed scores of 11 and 20 in the Edgbaston Test earlier this month and was rested from the first T20I in Southampton, replaced Deepak Hooda in the eleven for the second T20I. And while Kohli was the incumbent number 3. it was a really harsh decision on Hooda who had smacked 33 runs off 17 balls in the first match and has notched up a stunning century against Ireland in the game before.
Virat Kohli out for only 1 run
The question regarding Kohli in T20 cricket has been his poor strike rate, dismal scoring rate against spinners outside the powerplay. And most importantly, whether he will buy in and play according to his new template of attacking, of intent, of aggressiveness set by Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid.
What the management will take salvation from Kohli’s dismissal today will be only that he got out playing a big shot, but an ugly swipe only on the third ball he faced? That’s questionable.
India had been given a rollicking start by Rohit Sharma and opening for the first time in T20Is, Rishabh Pant as they were rumbling at 10 runs an over before Sharma got out to debutant Richard Gleeson, who then hurried Kohli for pace on his first ball, hitting the batter’s thigh pad.
Kohli got off the mark on the last ball of next over, of Moeen Ali, with a single. Gleeson came in charging for the first ball of his second over, hit the length with a pacy delivery outside the off-stump. Kohli went after it looking for a big hit on the legside and top-edged it behind backward point where Dawid Malan ran behind and took a terrific diving catch.
The walls are closing in on Kohli’s position in the eleven. Netizens on Twitter also think the same.
Kohli got trolled heavily on Twitter after another cheap score:
Earth is 2022 years old and we are unlucky to be born in Virat Kohli era.
—
(@The_Sleigher) July 9, 2022
(@The_Sleigher) GLEESON HAS TWO AND THEY ARE SHARMA AND KOHLI
— England’s Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) July 9, 2022
Virat Kohli goes for just 1 in 3 balls. What a debut for Gleeson, he gets both Rohit and Virat on debut.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 9, 2022
The concern for Kohli is that the 1 (3) is quite a lot better than some of the 45 (40)s he was dropping in the IPL. If they want to play anchoring, conservative cricket (a legit plan), then he’s fine, but if India do want to be more aggressive, you’d say there are better options.
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) July 9, 2022
So what if virat kohli is failing since last 3 years . He still proud husband and father!!!
— Lakshman (@Rebel_notout) July 9, 2022
Hooda, SKY, Pant, DK; then Samson, Tripathi.
Virat Kohli really needs to up his T20I game in coming “opportunities”…And given if this is the inent and modus operandi of how the Sharma-led side is going to bat, Kohli might be a misfit if he scooters at 120 SR.#ENGvsIND— Jatin Khandelwal (@jr_khandelwal) July 7, 2022
Kohli saab and the art of getting out to new bowlers.
— Heisenberg
(@internetumpire) Forget runs, at this rate, Kohli is going to starve all of us watching him face any deliveries only.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) July 9, 2022
Virat Kohli is caught looking for a big shot. Virender Sehwag on commentary “paise aur gaind dekh ke urranay chahyain.”
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 9, 2022
ICT approach changed to score quick… Kohli likes to take time.. But now he should attack more so after powerplay he attacked the first ball itself these things will continue more intent = more risk .
— Sai (@akakrcb6) July 9, 2022
Virat Kohli’s scores in his last:
Test Match: 11(19) & 20(40) v ENG
ODI Match: 0(2) v WI
T20I Match: 1(3) v ENG #ENGvIND— 12th Khiladi (@12th_khiladi) July 9, 2022
Hurts to say, but Kohli’s spot shouldn’t be a certainty anymore. Esp with KL expected to be back for the T20 WC.
— Sarah Waris (@swaris16) July 9, 2022
Alas and alack, Kohli no-show again
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 9, 2022
Bhai Kohli T20 rehne de yaar..#INDvsENG #ENGvIND
— Jatin Khandelwal (@jr_khandelwal) July 9, 2022
