Gautam Gambhir Criticizes Virat Kohli Following India’s Disappointing Performance Against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023
Gautam Gambhir Criticizes Virat Kohli Following India’s Disappointing Performance Against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023
In a high-stakes encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Kandy, cricket fans witnessed a surprising turn of events as Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, could only manage to score 4 runs in 6 balls before being dismissed by Pakistan’s pace sensation, Shaheen Afridi. Despite a washout due to persistent rain, Shaheen Afridi walked away with a feeling of accomplishment after rattling two of the most prolific white-ball players in the world with his pace bowling.
Shaheen Afridi’s moment of glory came when he dismissed both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli within the span of just 4 deliveries. Kohli’s dismissal left Indian fans in shock, as he attempted to play a drive without proper foot movement, resulting in the ball finding its way onto his off-stump. This poor performance by Kohli came at a crucial juncture for India, following Rohit Sharma’s early departure.
Former Indian opening batter Gautam Gambhir did not hold back his criticism of Virat Kohli’s casual approach during his batting. In the commentary box, Gambhir expressed his disapproval, saying, “That was a nothing shot, neither forward, nor back. I think that was a bit casual. That’s what you get when you play someone like Shaheen Afridi. You don’t know whether to go forward or back.” Kohli appeared completely clueless while facing Afridi’s delivery, which ultimately led to his dismissal.
On the other hand, former Pakistani pace bowler Waqar Younis offered a contrasting viewpoint, suggesting that Kohli was somewhat unlucky against Shaheen Afridi. Waqar remarked, “Kohli was a touch unlucky. Inside edge, the ball didn’t come onto the bat and maybe even kept a little bit low. But credit to Shaheen Afridi for altering his length.”
Kohli’s departure marked a significant setback for India, and his wicket sent shockwaves among Indian cricket enthusiasts around the world. Shaheen Afridi also dismantled the stumps of Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who struggled to cope with the pace and mistimed a shot right after a rain break.
Despite these early setbacks, India managed to reach a score of 266 runs, thanks to a remarkable partnership between wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan (82) and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (87), who added 138 runs for the 5th wicket. However, India’s lower-order batsmen failed to capitalize on this partnership, resulting in a modest total.
The persistent rain in Kandy prevented Pakistan from starting their chase, and the match ultimately ended in a washout. Weather conditions in Sri Lanka are expected to remain unpredictable, with the final scheduled for September 17th in Colombo. Cricket enthusiasts around the world are eagerly awaiting the resumption of this fierce rivalry once conditions permit.
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