Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s vulnerability to deliveries outside the off stump came under scrutiny again on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide. After his dismissal for just 7 runs, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Kohli’s approach, calling it adamant and unadaptive.
Kohli fell to a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc, edging to Steve Smith at second slip. The shot, marked by indecision, showcased the Indian batter’s ongoing struggle with the swinging ball outside off. “One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially, his adamance to not try another way to tackle it,” Manjrekar remarked on X (formerly Twitter).
India, after a promising 69-run partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, collapsed rapidly under Starc’s fiery spell. Starc began by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal for a golden duck on the game’s very first ball. He returned to remove Rahul and Kohli in quick succession, leaving India reeling at 81/4 before lunch.
Amid overcast conditions favoring swing, Starc exploited the conditions brilliantly, rattling the Indian batting order. Scott Boland also contributed, trapping Gill LBW, adding to India’s woes.
India’s decision to bat first is now under question as their vulnerability against Australia’s pace attack becomes increasingly evident.
