‘Need to change if India wants to reach WTC final’- Mohammad Kaif lambasts Virat Kohli after risky run-out

On the first day of the last Test match between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, November 1, Virat Kohli attempted to take a quick single but made a mistake in judgement that lost him his wicket. Thus, in the game’s longest format, the talismanic batter’s miserable run went on.

Kohli attempted to rotate strike after hitting a full-toss through mid-wicket for a boundary to get off the mark. He then shoved the next delivery in front of mid-on and went for a quick single. Matt Henry picked up the ball quickly and then made a fantastic throw that knocked down the stumps.

When he was caught dangerously short of his crease, even Virat Kohli frantic dive was insufficient to save him.

India lost their fourth wicket for 84 runs after the former skipper was dismissed for four off six balls. Mohammad Kaif did not like this suicidal dismissal. The former cricketer for India also brought up the fact that in the last Test, Kohli had been removed off a full-toss.

“Virat Kohli has been clean bowled to a full toss in this series, and now this decision is being run out. If India is to get to the WTC final, this must alter,” Kaif stated on Friday on his official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) profile.

Virat Kohli in this series has been clean bowled to a full toss and now this error of judgement to be run out. This needs to change if India needs to reach the WTC final.

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 1, 2024

On Day 2, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill both reach half-centuries.

With a superb exhibition of counterattacking cricket in the first session, young stars Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant gave India the reliable partnership they needed on Day 2. Once dropped on 45 by Mark Chapman, the former reached his half-century off 66 balls.

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As he reached his half-century off just 36 balls, Pant was the partnership’s more explosive batter. The partnership for the fifth wicket is getting close to three figures, and the hosts should feel secure about taking a sizable lead in the first innings given the excellent depth in India’s batting order.