Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lashed out at Virat Kohli for his usual dismissal against Australia in the 5th Test on Friday. Kohli made 17 runs before being dismissed off-stump by Boland in the 32nd over.
“Such a good player. But always the same mistakes. The gap between the faults should be long. That’s what top players do but he (Kohli) didn’t do it. Almost six have been dismissed in this series in front of pace other than off-stump whether it is playing length in front or behind or while diving in the air,” said Pathan to Star Sports.
“Today, he could have left it long, and the line is far from it. It’s all about discipline. Whoever makes a comparison, like the great Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli should leave the balls outside the off stump and show discipline,” he added.
A common trap? 👀#ViratKohli fell 7 times in foreign delivery, causing a sharp reaction from #IrfanPathan! Here’s what he had to say 👆🏻#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 Test 5, Day 1 | LIVE NOW | #BorderGavaskarTrophy #Tough Rivalry pic.twitter.com/2pBnBOrKm0
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 3, 2025
Talking about the comparison between the two Indian batting greats, Pathan said that Tendulkar had the range and while Kohli could not pull off the shots that Sachin used to play, he seems to have declined at the moment.
“Sachin Tendulkar had a lot of width, it was cut, it was cut high but Virat never played those shots. It’s not like he never played with them. He doesn’t want to do that. He is reluctant and that’s why he drives or tries to protect six or seven balls. “There is always an outside edge and it comes out,” said Pathan.
Kohli’s form has been in check in the ongoing series with the bat, despite scoring a century in Perth in the first Test, he has yet to fire on all cylinders for India. In another 7 innings, he scored 5, 7, 11, 3, 36, 5, 17.
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