Former India opening batter Gautam Gambhir has hit out at India superstar batter Virat Kohli, saying he played a nothing shot to be dismissed against Pakistan. India is facing Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2023 opener at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Asia Cup 2023, India vs Pakistan updates
Speaking to Star Sports, Gambhir said that Kohli played a nothing shot to be dismissed against Pakistan, while also calling his shot-making casual. Kohli scored four runs off seven balls, hitting a solitary boundary against Pakistan.
“That was a nothing shot, neither forward, neither back. I think was a bit casual. That’s what you get when you play someone like Shaheen Afridi. You don’t know whether to go forward or back,” said Gambhir during commentary.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis said Kohli was a touch unlucky, saying the ball did not come on to the bat when he tried playing his shot. Kohli played on a Shaheen Shah Afridi delivery on to his stumps to leave India reeling at 27 for 2.
“Kohli was a touch unlucky. Inside edge, the ball didn’t come on to bat and maybe even kept a bit low. But credit to Shaheen Shah Afridi for altering his length,” Waqar said.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were going to be key for India in the high-octane match against Pakistan but both of India’s run-machines were dismissed by Pakistan’s most experienced pacers. Rohit and Kohli have struggled against left-arm bowlers off all varieties. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed with their feet movement against the wily Afridi who had corrected his lengths after the rain break.
India went on to post 266 runs in the first innings, on the back of half-centuries from wicket-keeping batter Ishan Kishan and all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf picked up all 10 wickets to becoming the first trio to do so in Asia Cup history.
www.indiatoday.in
Source link