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

Virat Kohli. (Source – Jio Cinema)

Virat Kohli tried to take a quick single but an error in judgement cost him his wicket on Day 1 of the final Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, November 1. As a result, the wretched run continued for the talismanic batter in the longest format of the game.

After putting away a full-toss through mid-wicket for a boundary to get off the mark, Kohli tried to rotate strike as he pushed the following delivery in front of mid-on and took off for a quick single. Matt Henry was quick to pick up the ball before knocking down the stumps with an excellent throw. Even Kohli’s desperate dive couldn’t save him as he was caught well short of his crease.

The former India captain was out for four off six balls as India lost their fourth wicket for 84 runs. This suicidal dismissal did not sit well with Mohammad Kaif. The former India cricketer also pointed out that Kohli had been dismissed off a full-toss in the last Test.

Also Check: Watch: Virat Kohli’s suicidal run-out in third Test against New Zealand

“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,” Kaif wrote on his official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday.

Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant score half-centuries on Day 2

India needed a steady partnership from young guns Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant on Day 2 and they provided the same through an excellent display of counter-attacking cricket in the first session. The former got to his half-century off 66 balls after being dropped on 45 by Mark Chapman.

Also Read: ‘We’re a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world, having fun and trying to win games’ – Daryl Mitchell after half-century in Mumbai Test

Meanwhile, Pant was the more explosive batter in the partnership as he got to his half-century off just 36 balls. The partnership for the fifth wicket is nearing the three-figure mark and with the commendable depth in India’s batting order, the hosts should be confident of getting a substantial lead in the first innings.