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Aakash Chopra has attributed Virat Kohli's dismissal on the last ball of Day 3 of the first Test between India and New Zealand to him potentially thinking about the approaching Stumps. He added that the modern batting great was unfortunate as he got a faint edge when he could have easily missed the ball.
Kohli scored 70 runs off 102 deliveries as India ended Day 3 (Friday, October 18) in Bengaluru at 231/3 in their second innings. They still trail New Zealand by 125 runs, after the Kiwis had posted 402 in their first innings earlier in the day.
Reviewing the game on Colors Cineplex, Chopra was asked about his thoughts on Kohli's dismissal.
"It happens very rarely that Virat Kohli goes neither forward nor back. He has a huge forward stride and if he cannot reach there, he definitely uses the depth of the crease. It might have been playing in his mind that it was the day's last over, and maybe a slight concentration lapse as he didn't read the length properly," he responded.
While terming the dismissal unlucky, the former India opener added that it was a big setback for the hosts.
"You played a sort of defensive push and your luck was bad because the truth is that it's only a difference of luck between getting beaten or getting out. If your luck is bad, you get an outside edge, and if it is good, it goes to the keeper and you hear oohs and aahs. Unfortunately, he got out for 70. It was a big blow," Chopra observed.
Kohli added 136 runs for the third wicket with Sarfaraz Khan (70* off 78) before his dismissal. He edged a Glenn Phillips delivery to Tom Blundell behind the wickets on the final ball of the day.
"It's only a matter of when" - Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli scoring his first Test half-century of 2024
![Virat Kohli struck eight fours and a six during his 70-run knock. [Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/581c7-17292579496353-1920.jpg)
During the same discussion, Aakash Chopra was asked about Friday's knock being Virat Kohli's first Test half-century of the year.
"It's the first half-century also because he didn't play the five-Test series against England. The two matches against Bangladesh weren't that good. It's only a matter of when. We were saying the same thing when he got out for zero, that he would make for sure because he is such a mighty player," he replied.
The cricketer-turned-commentator praised his fellow Delhiite for surviving a tough start to his innings before playing a few exquisite shots.
"The start wasn't that good today. He seemed to be on the verge of getting out in the first 14-15 balls. However, then when he batted, he played some amazing shots. There was a drive, it was a full ball, the long-on was there and he hit a four despite that. It's just the whip of the wrist without using his feet," Chopra elaborated.
Kohli became the fourth Indian to reach the 9000-run mark in Tests during his innings. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar are the other Indians who have reached the milestone.
