'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar praised Virat Kohli for coming in at No. 3 on Day 2 (Thursday, October 17) of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. With India's regular No. 3 Shubman Gill out with a stiff neck, KL Rahul was listed to bat one-drop for India.
However, after skipper Rohit Sharma departed for only two runs in the seventh over, Kohli walked in at No. 3, relinquishing his customary No. 4 batting position in Tests.
Although he was dismissed for a nine-ball duck, the move earned massive praise from Manjrekar, who mentioned how even greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly were unwilling to bat up the order in Tests despite opening in ODIs.
He posted on his X handle:
"Hats off to Virat Kohli! Coming out to bat at no 3 bcoz the team needed it. Ganguly, Tendulkar were very keen to open in white ball cricket, but never wanted to go up the order in Tests. That’s a true champion right there for you!"
For context, Kohli had previously batted at No. 3 only six times in Tests, while batting at No. 4 in 148 innings.
Unfortunately for Kohli and Team India, the move did not pay dividends as the champion batter was dismissed for a duck. The 35-year-old averages a paltry 16.16 in Tests when batting at No. 3 with a highest score of 41.
"Virat Kohli has compounded his problems by wanting to be on the front foot to every ball" - Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar feels Virat Kohli's tendency to play every ball off the front foot led to his dismissal in the first innings of the opening Test against New Zealand.
With the ball doing all sorts in the overcast conditions in Bengaluru, Kiwi pacer William O'Rourke got one to jump off from short of good length. Kohli prodded forward but could only manage an inside edge to be caught at leg gully by Glenn Phillips.
"Have said this before will say it again. Virat has compounded his problems by wanting to be on the front foot to every ball. No matter the length. Today’s dismissal ball could have been comfortably tackled off the back foot," posted Manjrekar on his X handle.
The nine-ball duck continued Virat Kohli's poor run of form in Tests, with the batter averaging a dismal 26.16 in seven innings this year.
Meanwhile, Team India are in deep trouble at 33/4 in 22 overs in their first innings on the second day's play after the entire first day was washed out due to rain.
