India’s Virat Kohli bats during play on the first day of the fifth cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Former India player Irfan Pathan lashed out at Virat Kohli for his familiar way of getting dismissed against Australia in the 5th Test on Friday. Kohli made 17 runs before he was undone by an outside the off-stump delivery from Boland in the 32nd over.
“Such a great player. But every time the same mistakes. The gap between mistakes should be far apart. That’s what great players do but he (Kohli) didn’t do it. Almost six dismissals in this series in front of pace outside the off-stump whether it’s playing the length on front or backfoot or while diving in the air,” Pathan said on Star Sports.
“Today also he could have left it from the length, the line was far away as well. It’s all about discipline. Whoever makes the comparison, like great Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli should leave the balls outside off stump and show discipline,” he added.
A familiar trap? 👀#ViratKohli falls for the 7th time to an outside-off delivery, prompting a sharp reaction from #IrfanPathan! Here’s what he had to say 👆🏻#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 5th Test, Day 1 | LIVE NOW | #BorderGavaskarTrophy #ToughestRivalry pic.twitter.com/2pBnBOrKm0
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 3, 2025
Talking about the comparison between the two Indian batting greats, Pathan said that Tendulkar had range and even though Kohli can also pull off the shots Sachin used to play, he seems reluctant at the moment.
“Sachin Tendulkar had a lot of range, there was cut, uppercut but Virat never plays those shots. It’s not like he’s never played them. He doesn’t want to do that. He is reluctant and that’s the reason he goes for the drive or tries to defend sixth or seventh stump balls. Every time, there is an outside edge and he gets out,” Pathan said.
Kohli’s form has been under scrutiny in the ongoing series with the batter, despite scoring a century at Perth in the 1st Test, hasn’t fired on all cylinders for India. In the other 7 innings, he has put up scores of 5, 7, 11, 3, 36, 5, 17.
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