Virat Kohli
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Last Update on: March 23rd, 2023 at 04:22 pm

According to Mohammad Kaif, the former Indian cricketer, Virat Kohli’s dismissal during the third and final One Day International (ODI) match between India and Australia in Chennai on March 22 could have been avoided if there was better planning.

In the match, Australia chose to bat first on a pitch that had a slight advantage for spin bowling and set a target of 270 runs for India. With India at 185/4 after 35 overs, the team had a decent chance to chase down the target, but Virat Kohli’s dismissal for 54 runs changed the course of the game. Ultimately, India lost the match by 21 runs.

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Virat Kohli attempted to loft Ashton Agar over extra cover, but he hit the ball with the inside half of the bat, resulting in a mistimed shot. The ball went straight to David Warner at long-off, which proved to be a crucial moment in the run chase for India, putting them further behind in their pursuit of the target.

Mohammed Kaif Goes Off On Virat Kohli’s Dismissal

During a post-match discussion on Star Sports, Kaif was asked for his opinion on Virat Kohli’s dismissal. According to the former Indian batsman, instead of looking to place the ball, the modern-day batting great should have attempted to hit a maximum.

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“It was a cheap shot. There was no planning. The ball had gone one bounce to Warner in the previous over. He just survived there. If you want to hit a six, you have to commit. When Virat Kohli decides something, he does it with certainty. You cannot play a half-hearted shot. When the ball becomes soft, the ball doesn’t travel. You will not be able to hit the ball into gaps, you will have to put power there.”

With India losing the series 2-1, it will be interesting to see the approach India decides to take in their coming ODI affair. However, all the Indian players including Virat Kohli will be involved in the two-month-long Indian Premier League followed by the finals of the World Test Championship.