Pacer reveals how he choked up Virat Kohli
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Former New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner has opened up on how he troubled Indian batters like the great Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Shikhar Dhawan with his continuous short-of-length deliveries during the Test series back in 2014.
Neil Wagner recalled how he had troubled the Indian batters, especially Virat Kohli, with his continuous tactic of short-pitched delivery that ultimately led to the fall of the veteran Indian batter.
The incident dates back to 2014, as it was the first match of the series at Eden Park in Auckland, when New Zealand had posted a target of 406, and the visitors looked well in control before Wagner came to their rescue.
Neil Wagner opens up on troubling Virat Kohli with his short-pitched bowling
Neil Wagner recalled how he effectively used the short-ball tactics to try and break through. He first dismissed the batter Virat Kohli on a score of 67 with a side and short delivery, which the right-hander tried to pull, only to get a bottom edge.
"This Test match, I remember the wicket being quite flat, but there was a bit of pace and bounce. Eden Park is quite small, straight, but the square boundaries there are pockets that are helpful."
"I remember bowling a couple of bouncers and how they played it, and particularly Virat Kohli looked a bit unsettled. He didn't know if he should take it on or not and how to play," he said on the Red Inker Cricket Podcast.
"The idea was trying to go cross and outside the eyeline. He (Virat Kohli) tried to pull it in front of the square because there's protection out. Virat Kohli trying to pull it in front of the square; he just got a toe end on it, and it carried through to BJ Watling. He got a bottom edge on it, and it created a bit of a mode," Neil Wagner added.
Wagner got the better of Shikhar Dhawan and MS Dhoni with a similar bumper tactic
After having already turned the massive role for New Zealand, Wagner next sent back Shikhar Dhawan, who had scored a stunning hundred and looked confident. A surprise bumper took him by shock as he gloved the ball back into the wicket-keeper's gloves.
The game was not yet over, as Ravindra Jadeja, alongside skipper MS Dhoni, looked to take the visitors over the line. However, Neil Wagner tricked Dhoni with a slower bouncer and ended their hopes on the score of just 39.
Then Dhoni and Jadeja looked like they were going to chase it down and play a phenomenal innings. Dhoni didn't look like it was bothering him too much. It was all about taking the positive and aggressive option for us and not being fearful at all."
"I was like, I am going to bowl a slower ball bouncer to Dhoni. I did it, and he chopped it on, and I was amazed by it. The confidence that I got from that and backing your gut feeling made me feel like getting some confidence and some self-belief," he said.
Neil Wagner retired with great numbers for New Zealand in red-ball cricket
The left-handed fast bowler has played a crucial role for New Zealand over the years, and he is one of those few players to have never played in the ODIs as well as the T20I series.
He has played a total of 64 matches throughout his Test career and was stupendous throughout his career with the ball. Wagner had picked 260 wickets for the Black Caps while also amassing 875 runs as a batter. He retired after a guard of honour he received in the game against South Africa back in February 2024.
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India vs New Zealand India National Cricket Team New Zealand National Cricket Team Virat Kohli Neil Wagner MS Dhoni Shikhar Dhawan
