Dough of the stars of India Virat Kohli was visibly frustrated as he fell victim to a known weakness – a ball outside the off stump. His dismissal for just 6 runs on Saturday during the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground brought the 2024-25 season to an abrupt end. Border Trophy-Gavaskar (BGT) campaign.
What makes this download even more exciting? It could very well be the last time fans see Kohli bat on Australian soil.
Kohli's frustration was caught on the stump mic as he screamed in anger as the ball went to second slip, where it was safely tucked away.
The Scott Boland show is delivering at the SCG!
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He's got Virat Kohli now. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/12xG5IWL2j
Kohli falls into Boland's perfect trap
The dismissal came on the first ball of the 14th over. Scott Boland, who has troubled Kohli throughout the series, bowled a length delivery outside the off-stump channel. Kohli, tempted to play with strong hands, took the ball to second slip, giving Australia a light port.
What made the dismissal more painful for Kohli was the precision with which Boland executed Australia's premeditated plan. The Australian pacer had openly discussed their strategy against Kohli during a press conference on Friday.
“We have pretty definite plans on how we want to deal with him,” Boland revealed to Fox Cricket. “He feels like he gets away a lot and then he wants to play the ball as soon as he gets in. So once it's in, we just want to run our lines a little bit on the fifth stem, and it's working right now. .”
Kohli's final BGT numbers disappoint
Kohli's series stats do not reflect the dominance expected from one of the game's greats. He managed just 190 runs from nine innings at an average of 23.75. His only century came in the second innings of the first Test in Perth, but since then, he has struggled to convert starts into big scores.
The Sydney Test saw Kohli take India to 47/2. He looked in good touch early on, scoring a confident boundary and handling the Australian pacers well. However, Boland's relentless accuracy ended Kohli's stay, ending his anti-climactic streak.
Frustration boils over
Kohli's visible anger after his dismissal was a rare sight. Known for his intense focus, the 35-year-old marksman is usually calm under pressure. But on Saturday, he let his emotions show.
Even before the ball reached second slip, Kohli was heard shouting and swearing at himself. It was a reflection of the frustration that has built up throughout the series, especially given his vulnerability outside the stumps.
Virat Kohli's future in Test cricket?
Kohli's form and future in the Indian Test Team have been hot topics of discussion. Reports suggest that the Indian selectors will review his position in the Test squad after the BGT.
Kohli's struggles with off-stump balls have been well documented. This series once again exposed his weakness as Australia's bowlers targeted that area relentlessly.
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