The Australian cricket team emerged victorious in the highly anticipated WTC 2021-23 final, leaving Indian fans disappointed once again. With a resounding win by 209 runs, Australia now holds the distinction of being the first team to clinch all the ICC trophies. However, amidst the celebrations, one Indian star faced intense scrutiny for his shot selection, none other than Virat Kohli.
In the final innings of the match, Kohli fell victim to Scott Boland’s deceptive variations, departing on 49 runs. The Indian skipper must be left pondering his missed opportunity, as the team was positioned reasonably well at 179-3. Boland showcased remarkable discipline in his line and length, refusing to waver despite the batters attempting to rotate the strike.
Sunil Gavaskar, in a conversation with Star Sports, expressed his frustration with Kohli’s shot selection against Boland. Gavaskar highlighted the ordinary shots played by Indian batsmen, including the dismissal of Cheteshwar Pujara. He suggested that the focus on strike rate may have influenced Kohli, labeling his shot as unimpressive.
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“The batting was in shambles today. It was just ridiculous what we saw today, especially the shot-making. We saw some ordinary shots yesterday from Pujara, somebody you never expect to play that shot,” criticized Sunil Gavaskar.
Gavaskar continued to question the mentality of the Indian batsmen, citing examples of Ravindra Jadeja in the first innings, along with Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli. He pondered why the batters seemed inclined to play attacking shots when nearing personal milestones. Gavaskar directly questioned Kohli about his poor shot selection, raising concerns about his ability to win matches with such choices.
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“It was a pretty ordinary shot, outside the off stump. He was leaving till then. Maybe he was conscious that he needed one run to reach his half-century. It happens when you are nearing a milestone,” Gavaskar added.
Gavaskar’s comments reflect his disappointment with the Indian batsmen’s approach, accusing them of prioritizing personal landmarks over team success. The legendary cricketer had previously voiced similar concerns during his commentary, criticizing the batters for their fixation on individual milestones.
The WTC Final loss has once again raised questions about the Indian team’s performance in crucial matches, with Kohli facing particular scrutiny for his shot selection. As fans reflect on the match, the focus now shifts to how the team can learn from this defeat and bounce back stronger in future tournaments.