Kohli on India’s lower-order: “I think they could have done better”

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.

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