Virat Kohli on the fifth day of the ICC World Test Championship final towards Australia at The Oval in London on June 11, 2023.
| Photo Credit: ANI
A furious Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday (June 11) hit out on the Indian gamers and didn’t spare Virat Kohli after the staff’s meek give up within the World Test Championship final towards Australia, saying the batting was “ridiculous”.
Australia crushed India by 209 runs on the fifth and final day of a sport that was largely dominated by the staff from Down Under.
“The batting was shambles today. It was just ridiculous what we saw today. Especially the shot making. We saw some ordinary shots yesterday from (Cheteshwar) Pujara, somebody you never expect to play that shot.
“Maybe any person has gone into his head and mentioned ‘strike fee, strike fee’. You haven’t even lasted a session. Eight wickets haven’t lasted a session? Come on,” Gavaskar told broadcaster Star Sports.
The result meant India’s underwhelming record in ICC tournaments continued.
Australian pacer Scott Boland produced a bowling spell of rare quality to get rid of Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja in the same over, effectively shutting the door on India, who were bowled out for 234 in their second innings on the final day here at The Oval.
Gavaskar said Indian batters erred persistently around their personal landmarks, citing a pattern.
Speaking about Kohli’s dismissal, Gavaskar said, “It was a fairly bizarre shot. Outside the off stump. He was leaving until then. Maybe he was aware that he wanted one run to achieve his half century. It occurs if you end up nearing a milestone.
“It happened to Jadeja. He played a delivery he shouldn’t have when he was (on) 48. Happened to Ajinkya Rahane who was on 46. He hadn’t played that shot all this while. Suddenly why do you play that shot? Because you are aware of that landmark.” Having made 49 off 78 balls, Kohli was the primary Indian to get out on the final day, off Boland who invited the batter to go for a drive on a large supply and the batter obliged.
Slamming Kohli for his shot selection, Gavaskar mentioned, “It was a bad shot. You should ask Kohli what shot he played. He talks so much about how to win a match you need a long innings. How are you going to do that if you play a ball so far outside the off stump?” This was India’s second defeat in successive WTC finals after shedding to New Zealand in 2021 within the inaugural version.
Set an inconceivable goal of 444, India began the day at 164 for 3 however quickly misplaced batting mainstay Kohli, adopted by Jadeja (0) and Rahane (43) to be bowled out for 234 in 63.3 overs, shedding seven wickets for under 70 runs.
