New Delhi: Team India star Virat Kohli returned to form with a cracking half-century in the 3rd and final ODI against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 12. However, his woes against Adil Rashid continued as the senior India batter once again fell to the spinner in the game. It was Kohli’s 73rd ODI fifty for India.
Kohli’s form was under the scanner heading into the 3rd ODI after he was dismissed cheaply for just 5 runs in the 2nd ODI in Cuttack on Sunday. Kohli walked into bat at his usual no.3 spot after skipper Rohit Sharma, India’s centurion from the last game, departed cheaply after managing just 1 run in Ahmedabad.
Kohli combined with Shubman Gill to steady the ship for the hosts and added a brilliant 116-run stand for the second wicket to put India’s innings back on track. Kohli scored 52 off 55 balls laced with 7 fours and a solitary six and looked in great touch. However, he once again fell prey to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who has made the India star his bunny in international cricket.
Adil Rashid makes Virat Kohli his bunny
After dismissing him on 5 in the 2nd ODI, Rashid came back to haunt Kohli once again in the 3rd ODI in Ahmedabad on Thursday as he dismissed the Team India star on 52. Rashid bowled a flighted delivery on the middle stump line, inviting Kohli forward before the ball drifted slightly away to take an edge of the right-hander’s bat. Phil Salt made no mistake with the catch to send Kohli packing.
It was the 5th time Rashid dismissed Kohli in ODIs and the 11th across all formats in international cricket. Rashid now holds the record for dismissing Kohli joint-most times in international cricket along with Tim Southee and Josh Hazlewood, who have also dismissed the India star 11 times each across all formats.
Nonetheless, India would be pleased to see Kohli return among the runs ahead of the Champions Trophy as everyone in the top-order has now gotten runs for the Men in Blue in the ongoing series. Kohli’s return to form was also imperative considering India dropped Yashasvi Jaiswal from their final 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy to accommodate an extra spinner in Varun Chakaravarthy.
Virat Kohli ended his half-century drought in ODIs with a 52-run knock in the 3rd ODI against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahemdabad on Wednesday. However, he was once again dismissed by spinner Adil Rashid in the game. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
