Sanjay Manjrekar on Virat Kohli’s dismissal

Virat Kohli was dismissed for one run in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune on Friday in very unconventional fashion. Trying to slap a full toss from Mitchell Santner across the line, Kohli missed the ball’s trajectory completely and it slammed into the stumps.
Kohli’s stint in the middle had lasted just nine balls. The dismissal, while absurd for the prolific India batter, also highlighted his struggles against spin on Asian conditions.
Kohli has been dismissed 21 times in 26 innings against spinners in Asia in the past three years, with an average of 28. Of these, 10 dismissals have been to left-arm orthodox bowlers, against whom he averages 27.10.
Understandably, Kohli walked off the ground seething after his soft dismissal.
“Virat will know himself that he has just played the worst shot of his career to get out,” tweeted former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. “Got to feel for him (Kohli)… cause as always, he came out with solid and honest intent.”
Former India coach Anil Kumble opined in an interview on JioCinema that maybe Kohli could have considered playing domestic cricket in the lead up to the New Zealand series.
The Indian team find themselves staring down the barrel after two days in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Rohit Sharma’s men are facing the realic threat of their first series defeat at home in 12 years.
After New Zealand batted first in the Pune Test, they posted a first innings total of 259. In reply, India were bundled out for 156. The visitors came back on the second day to pile on India’s misery: going into the third day of the second Test, the visitors’ overall lead stands at 301 with five wickets intact, thanks to Tom Latham’s 86 and Mitchell Santner’s seven-wicket haul.
New Zealand have never won a Test series in India. That could change in Pune.