Pune: Virat Kohli suffered yet another failure against spin as Mitchell Santner got the better of the Indian maestro on Day 2 of the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune. Kohli walked out to bat with purpose and positive body language but could only score one run during his short stay of nine balls. Kohli came into bat after the dismissal of Shubman Gill, who was sent back to the pavillion by Mitchell Santner for 30.
It was a big blow for India, who had made a decent start, resuming the day at 16 for 1. Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal had steadied the ship for India after Rohit Sharma’s early wicket, adding 49 runs for the second wicket but Gill’s wicket opened the floodgates.
Loud cheers echoed through the MCA stadium after the dismissal of Gill as the crowd welcomed the talismanic batter to the crease
Kohli reached the middle in a matter of seconds, motoring along the ground, carrying plenty of positivity with him. Kohli sent a clear message to the Kiwis through his confident body language – I’m here to dominate not to survive.
Kohli’s spin struggles continue
But Kohli soon found out it’s not easy to dominate on a pitch, where the ball is keeping low and turning sideways on Day 2 itself.
Kohli thought the only way to play on this pitch was to bat aggressively and put pressure on the bowlers with an attacking approach. But one also has to trust his defence on a difficult track and stay patient and focused rather than get desperate.
Struggling to get going, Kohli’s aggression turned into desperation as he played a very unlike hack across the line as the ball sneaked under his bat as well. Kohli misjudged the line and length of the ball and missed a low full toss, that could have been easily punched between mid-on and mid-wicket with a straight bat.
Kohli’s struggles against spin in Asia in the last three years don’t seem to stop. In 26 innings since 2021, Kohli has been dismissed by spinners 21 times and ten of those dismissals have come against left-arm orthodox spin.
Virat Kohli out 🥺🥺🥺#ViratKohli #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/49ytD5Jewv
— Virat (@chiku_187) October 25, 2024
Back to the cycle before 71st
Virat Kohli gets out > Virat behaves as the bowler is Warne > Virat reacts as if the ball spun 360 degrees > Virat leaves. pic.twitter.com/WIirYFIUrb
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) October 25, 2024
What kind of a shot was that? Clearly Virat Kohli eye sight has gone down. It has affected his reflexes. You can see it his fielding too. Too many misfieldings #INDvsNZ #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/2Aomj9aj7I
— BRUTU #AUG21 ❤️ (@Brutu24) October 25, 2024
Mitchell Santner ran riot as India’s frailties against spin came to the fore in the first session on Day 2. Resuming the day on 16 for 1, India slipped to 107/7 at lunch, still trailing by another 152 runs in the first innings.
On a low and turning wicket, Indian batters crumbled courtesy of some poor shot selection and lack of application.
