Rashid Latif Explains The Reason Behind India's Horrendous Collapse In Adelaide

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has weighed in on India’s stunning collapse on day three of the opening Test against Australia in Adelaide. The Indian team registered their lowest Test total as Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ran riot, skittling them for 36. Rashid Latif understands that it must be a nightmare for captain Virat Kohli to see his team at such a state.

India, who held the advantage at the end of the second day, wholly squandered it through their dismal show with the bat. The tourists ended up with a competitive 244 in the first innings and bowled out Australia for 191, gaining a handy 53-run lead. However, getting bowled out for 36 meant that, India set only 90 to win for Australia, who chased it with eight wickets to spare and took a series lead.

Rashid Latif pointed out that there are days when everything the bowler does gets right and the edges carry to the fielders. At the same time, he underlined that the Indian batsmen came out with a mindset to attack and dominate. The former Pakistan keeper-batsman observed that the pitch developed more bounce after the first two days, favouring the bowlers, resulting in the edges going to the fielders.

“These things happen; there are days when the bowlers just hit the right spot 100 percent of the time and the edges go straight to fielders. I think the collapse occurred because the Indian batsmen perhaps came out with a mindset to attack the bowling and dominate. But the pitch changed its behaviour and I think on the first two days, it had some spongy bounce and was a bit slow, but then, the pitch had hardened up a bit and the ball skidded beautifully for the bowlers, which is why all the edges went into the fielders,” Rashid Latif said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Virat Kohli played a very sensible knock in the first innings: Rashid Latif

The 52-year old further said that Virat Kohli played a sensible knock of 74 in the first innings; however, with the wickets falling in a heap around him, he was provoked to chase a wide one. Thus, he predicts the entire passage of play to be a nightmare for the Indian captain, who will miss the next three Tests.

“Virat Kohli played a very sensible knock in the first innings but the second time around, with wickets falling so quickly at the other end, even he was tempted to chase a wide one to get runs on the board. It must have been a nightmare for Kohli to see his team bowled out for just 36 runs,” he added.

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