Batting great Sunil Gavaskar said that Virat Kohli lost his wicket in the first innings of the second test match between India and Sri Lanka. Kohli was dismissed on Day 23 as the wait for his 71st international century continues. Playing at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is now considered Kohli’s home ground after playing for RCB in the IPL for several years, the former India captain looked in good form but was once again stunned midway by a spinner .
On a turning track, the ball was placed too low when Kohli decided to play it across the line and fell in front of the wicket as Dhananjaya de Silva got a valuable wicket at a crucial stage.
Gavaskar said that Kohli was always going to struggle when he went on the backfoot to play the ball on which he was dismissed.
“Today you can say that the shot he played should not have been played. The trajectory meant he went on the back foot like in the first Test in Mohali but this time he played on his front pad, which meant he was always going to struggle. If he missed, he was always going to be a candidate for LBW, which is exactly what happened. He knew he was right in front as soon as he missed and the ball hit his pad. They didn’t even look for referrals. So, playing across the line cost him today,” Gavaskar said on the post-tea show on Star Sports.
Gavaskar further praised the Sri Lankan spinners for causing difficulties on the turning track for the Indian batsmen.
“The Sri Lankan bowlers bowled well… Jayavikrama calmed down after the first over. Every bowler is going to throw weird loose balls but they stick to their job well. The ball is gripping and turning so it won’t be easy for the batsmen.”
Shreyas Iyer’s counter-innings of 92 runs helped India post 252 on the scoreboard in the first innings, which is considered to be the match-winning score at the moment.
On Kohli’s dismissal, former pacer Ajit Agarkar said that the prolific batsman had no chance when the ball was kept short.
“There is very little that he could have done. That partnership with Hanuma Vihari was good. He put a little pressure. He used to cash whenever he got the chance. You usually try and backfoot when the ball is spinning But he lives just short once and has no chance,” Agarkar said.
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