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Team India ace batter Virat Kohli was trapped LBW for the third consecutive time in the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The right-handed batter was outfoxed by a Dunith Wellalge delivery that did not turn during the run chase at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7.
Kohli came into bat inside the powerplay for the first time in the series, as India were set a target of 249 runs to level the series. He got off to a brisk start after getting the opportunity to face the pacers, but fell into trouble as soon as he was up against the spinners in the middle overs.
After being trapped LBW by Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay in the series so far, Kohli lost his wicket to left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage this time around. He played a good length delivery expecting it to turn away from him. However, the ball came on with the arm to strike the pad.
Kohli had a discussion with Shreyas Iyer at the other end and pleaded his case for a review, and eventually went for it with mere seconds left on the timer. The DRS first showed that the bat was miles away from the ball when it struck the bat, indicating how much Kohli had misjudged the delivery.
Secondly, it showed three reds, and Virat Kohli was on his way back to the pavilion as soon as he saw the first replay on the screen and did not bother waiting for the ball tracker.
Have a look at the dismissal right here:
India crumbled to 71/4 following Kohli's dismissal in the 11th over. The former skipper's innings of 20 runs off 18 deliveries, comprised of four boundaries at a strike rate of 111.11.
Virat Kohli ends the series with 58 runs in three matches
The ace batter's first ODI assignment since his iconic 2023 ODI World Cup campaign did not pan out quite as one would have hoped. His splendid record in Sri Lanka was one of the talking points in the build-up to the series, and the general expectation was that he would be among the runs against a crippled Lankan bowling unit following an injury crisis.
However, Kohli consistently struggled against spin the entire series. He failed to judge the variations and the length, and was primarily pinned on the backfoot. With scores of 24, 14, and 20, the series ends as a forgettable affair for both Kohli and India.
