Kohli on India’s lower-order: The Indian captain seemed unhappy with India’s lower-order batting in the first Test.
During the first Test of India’s tour of Australia at Adelaide, India defeated Australia by 31 runs. In which appeared to be a comfortable victory for India on the morning of the final day, it ended being a nerve-wrenching one as Australia’s lower-order showed grit and determination against the opposition.
When it lower-order batting, it is a facet which the Indian team badly misses. Firstly, Indian bowlers aren’t as good batsmen as their counterparts. Moreover, they are usually seen going at everything rather than giving support to the batsman at the other end.
Had India’s lower-middle order added another 30-340 runs yesterday, Australia would have been out of the contest in the third innings itself. In what didn’t happen, it saw the match ending on a nervous note.
While India captain Virat Kohli lauded the likes of Man of the Match Cheteshwar Pujara and India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane during the post-match presentation, he also lashed out at India’s lower-order batting without responsibility yesterday.
Asked about Pujara’s game-changing hundred on the first day of the Test, Kohli was quoted, “Priceless from Pujara, we were down and out at lunch on day 1. His grit and determination brought us back in it. We always knew that runs on the board would make the home side tentative. Any lead was gold and we got 15. In the second innings again, he and [Ajinkya] Rahane batted well.”
Citing his expectations from India’s lower middle-order and lower order, Kohli said that they should have done better. “I think our lower middle order and lower order could have done better. We could have added another 30-35 runs more which could have taken the game totally beyond Australia.
So these are things that we have to think about going to Perth but if someone had told me before the series that I would be 1-0 up as soon we started the series, I would have taken it with both hands,” he added.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Kohli below:
Virat Kohli tells media no other India team has won opening Test in Aust. It’s also 50 years since a team won opening Test in Aust & ended up losing series #AUDvIND pic.twitter.com/jj3x7mvB23
— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) December 10, 2018
Bit perplexed that Kohli has persisted with Ashwin virtually unchanged. Thought he might attack a bit more with pace at both ends.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 10, 2018
“We need to learn quicker from our mistakes”: Virat Kohli addresses media after India beat Australia in first Test
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/hMlRpgrUU6 and NDTV 24×7#INDvAUS #AdelaideTest pic.twitter.com/tclaVEZ6Cy
— NDTV (@ndtv) December 10, 2018
A Test victory in South Africa
A Test victory in England
A Test victory in AustraliaA special 2018 for Indian cricket team under Virat Kohli!
— ESPNcricinfo stats (@ESPNcric_stats) December 10, 2018
“Felt very bad”: #ViratKohli shows sympathy for #SteveSmith, #DavidWarner after Ball-Tampering scandal#INDvAUS#Warner#Smith #Kohli
READ: https://t.co/FepQ5BShF4 pic.twitter.com/cnxQqPC69D
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) December 9, 2018
To win a test overseas without a major contribution from @imVkohli is significant.Expect Kohli now to fire at Perth. we score 350, we will keep winning given our potent bowling attack.Australians are an average side but don’t take away from fact that we are very good! #INDvsAUS
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) December 10, 2018
