Virat Kohli’s Struggles Against New Zealand: Sanjay Manjrekar’s Critique
In a recent cricket match between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Virat Kohli’s performance. During the first innings, Kohli was dismissed for a duck by New Zealand pacer William O’Rourke. Manjrekar commented on social media that Kohli’s tendency to play on the front foot contributed to his dismissal, suggesting he should have played on the back foot.
In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, Kohli has scored 468 runs in 11 innings, with an average of 46.80. However, his performance in the 2020s has been less impressive, with an average of 32.92 in 32 Tests.
Match Overview
India won the toss and chose to bat, but the decision backfired as they were bowled out for just 46 runs. Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the only players to reach double digits. New Zealand’s Matt Henry and William O’Rourke were the top wicket-takers.
In response, New Zealand scored 180/3, with Devon Conway and Will Young forming a strong partnership. Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell ended the innings with New Zealand leading by 134 runs.
Doubts Revealed
Virat Kohli -: Virat Kohli is a famous Indian cricketer known for his excellent batting skills. He has been the captain of the Indian cricket team and is considered one of the best batsmen in the world.
Sanjay Manjrekar -: Sanjay Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team. After retiring, he became a cricket commentator and analyst, sharing his opinions on cricket matches and players.
Front-foot play -: Front-foot play in cricket refers to a batting technique where the batsman steps forward with their front foot to play a shot. It is used to play deliveries that are pitched up or closer to the batsman.
Duck -: In cricket, a ‘duck’ means a batsman gets out without scoring any runs. It is called a duck because the number zero looks like a duck’s egg.
ICC World Test Championship -: The ICC World Test Championship is a tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for Test cricket teams. It aims to determine the best Test team in the world over a period of time.
William O’Rourke -: William O’Rourke is a fictional name used here. In the context of cricket, it might refer to a bowler who dismissed Virat Kohli in the match.
Devon Conway -: Devon Conway is a cricketer from New Zealand who plays as a batsman. He is known for his strong batting performances in international cricket.
Will Young -: Will Young is a New Zealand cricketer who plays as a batsman. He has represented New Zealand in various international cricket matches.