New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s old weakness came back to haunt him at his favourite ground in the world as the star India batter failed to fire in the first innings of the second Test in Adelaide. Coming on the back of a superb match-winning century in Perth, Kohli was expected to shine in the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval, a venue where he has scored five international centuries and three Test tons.
The Delhi dasher came out to bat after the dismissal of KL Rahul, who was given two lifelines by the Australians. Rahul’s luck finally ran out when he was caught brilliantly at gully by Nathan McSweeney. As a dejected Rahul walked back shaking his head, the crowd erupted to welcome Kohli – one of the most loved cricketers in the world.
However, the fans were left disappointed as Kohli’s stay at the crease lasted just eight balls. Starc, who accounted for the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal on the first ball of the match and the wicket of Rahul in the first over of his second spell, piled more misery on India with the prized scalp of Kohli at the stroke of Lunch.
Kohli’s weakness exposed, yet again!
While Kohli is one of the most technically sound and accomplished players in the world, his struggles outside off are well-documented. No matter on what ground he is playing, the fourth and fifth stump lines have always troubled the Delhi dasher. The uncertainty around his off-stump was evident as Kohli toe-edged a ball that could’ve been left alone but similar to his dismissal in the Perth Test and many more in his career, he fell to the late leave, after failing to get the bat out of the ball’s way, edging it to second slip, where Steve Smith took a simple catch.
Starc wreaks havoc as India suffer batting collapse
Starc, who had a forgettable outing, bounced back superbly in Adelaide, picking up three wickets. After getting rid of Jaiswal on the first ball, the left-arm seamer led Australia’s fightback after Shubman Gill and Kl Rahul stitched a 69-run stand for the second wicket. Starc picked up three wickets including wickets of Rahul and Kohli in back-to-back overs. Scott Boland joined the party and removed a well-set Gill for 31 in the penultimate over before the Tea break to leave India reeling at 82 for 4 in 23 overs.
AUS vs IND: Virat Kohli’s vulnerability outside off-stump resurfaced in the Adelaide Test, resulting in his early dismissal for just seven runs. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
