Atul Wassan Suggests How Virat Kohli's Run Out In The First Innings Might Go On To Help India In The Second Innings

Indian captain Virat Kohli’s unfortunate run-out was the major talking point from the first day of India’s first innings from the opening Test in Adelaide. The Indian team was going strong until Virat Kohli’s wicket and his unfortunate run-out in the 77th over tilted the scales towards Australia as from 188-3, the visitors managed only 244. Nevertheless, former Indian seamer Atul Wassan believes Kohli missing out on a hundred could be a blessing in disguise.

Virat Kohli could well spend his 2020 without making any century as the first day in Adelaide against Australia was an ideal stage to do so. However, the miscommunication between the Indian captain and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane resulted in the former’s dismissal for 74. The right-handed batsman had faced 179 balls then and was well set at the crease. He also shared crucial stands with Rahane and Pujara to propel his side towards what might be a winning first innings total.

Atul Wassan believes that Virat Kohli’s hunger for tuns and an unfortunate dismissal might encourage him to score a century in the second innings. He feels that if the 32-year old had got his hundred in the first innings, the appetite would have been reduced. Wassan concedes that Kohli’s century would be crucial if the tourists have to win.

“I think there this might favour India. Virat Kohli has so much hunger for scoring runs that he might just be more determined to score one in the second innings. If he had got his ton in first innings then his hunger for a hundred might have been satisfied. If India have to win this match then Kohli’s ton in 2nd innings will be more valuable,” Wassan said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The door opened for Australia after Virat Kohli’s wicket: Atul Wassan

The 52-year old opines that the door opened for Australia after Virat Kohli’s dismissal and while he refused to blame Ajinkya Rahane for it, he pointed out two mistakes. Wassan underlined that the first was to call for a single and returned to the crease instead of relinquishing himself.

“I think the door opened for Australia (after Kohli’s run out). Nobody does it intentionally but the fact is when you drop a catch, you can also lose a match. I’m not saying Rahane did it on purpose, nobody does that but he made two mistakes. The first was to call for the single and then he didn’t calculate that Kohli can take this forward better than him. He returned to his crease instead of sacrificing his wicket,” he added.

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