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Former Indian wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik has praised Virat Kohli for willingly batting at No.3 on Day 2 (October 17) of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. With India's regular No.3 Shubman Gill out due to neck stiffness, Kohli was moved up the order from his customary No.4 position.
However, the 35-year-old did not trouble the scorers as he was dismissed for a nine-ball duck. It was one of five no-scores by an Indian batter on a disastrous day that saw the side bowled out for 46 - their lowest Test score at home.
Speaking to Cricbuzz after play on the second day, Karthik said as quoted by Hindustan Times:
"Commendable on Virat Kohli also, he could have easily said, 'no, let me bat at four, because you can put KL Rahul or Sarfaraz Khan at three.' Coach would have said, 'fine, I will manage that conversation.' The fact that he said, 'no, I am happy to go at three,' tells you the mindset."
He added:
"Results are one thing, obviously it hasn't gone his way today, but just the fact that India is at a place where people are willing to adapt and at the same time give respect to what the coach thinks, I won't say it is the right decision."
Kohli's latest failure continued his poor Test run, which has seen him average 26.16 in seven innings this year.
"I am not protecting Virat Kohli" - Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik felt Virat Kohli should have continued at No.4 in the ongoing New Zealand Test with KL Rahul at No.3.
Kohli has historically struggled at one-drop, averaging under 20 in six innings before yesterday.
"I am not protecting Virat Kohli. He has the temperament and technique of some of the greatest batters that have ever played. If I make a change, it is because I believe that player will do well there, not because I want to protect Virat Kohli. He walks in at no. 3 in every ODI, he opens in T20, now you can say the ball is different, it's not moving as much, 100 percent, in Test cricket where is the best suited place for Virat Kohli, no. 4," said Karthik in the aforementioned interview.
He continued:
"I still feel personally KL should have batted at three, that's what I feel, that's different. But I definitely don't follow Gambhir's thinking of let's have the same batting order, so that there's consistency in their thought process and eventually the results will come out."
Meanwhile, Team India find themselves on the ropes with New Zealand racing to 180/3 in 50 overs and taking a lead of 134 runs at stumps on Day 2.
