Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer reckons Virat Kohli’s execution was not good and it led to his downfall in the high-octane clash against Pakistan at Pallekele in the ongoing Asia Cup on Saturday. Kohli was dismissed after scoring only four runs before he chopped the ball back on his stumps against Shaheen Shah Afridi.
After the first rain delay, Afridi got rid of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and then also had the big wicket of Virat Kohli. The ball didn’t bounce as Kohli expected it to and he played on while trying to glide the ball towards third-man.
“He tried to play with an angled bat towards third man. The ball stopped a bit and then he got that inside edge. Maybe if he would have played it straighter, the dismissal might not have taken place,” Wasim Jaffer said on ESPN Cricinfo.
Shaheen Shah Afridi also became the first bowler to dismiss Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bowled in the same innings.
Jaffer explained that Kohli paid the price for playing with an angled bat when the ball was swinging and seaming.
“When the ball is coming onto the bat nicely, they you can easily score runs towards third man. But when the ball is moving around, there are chances that it can jag back and hit the stumps. The execution from Virat Kohli was not good,” he explained.
On the other hand, Shaheen Shah Afridi was not up to the mark in the opening spell but the lanky pacer was right on the money after first rain interruption. Afridi planned Rohit Sharma’s dismissal to perfection, angling the ball across the right-hander before getting one to come back into him to hit the top of off.
Former Indian batter Robin Uthappa showered praise on Afridi for his immaculate planning.
“It was unbelievable planning. The first two deliveries pitched and went away. The third ball pitched at the same length and came in. No batter would expect such deliveries in one-day matches. You expect such deliveries in Test matches. Rohit Sharma didn’t see that coming and [it was] exceptionally well bowled. Maybe 15/10 for execution on that particular delivery,” Uthappa commented.
Afridi was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, returning with 4-35 in his quota of 10 overs. However, the match was called off due to rain after India posted 266 runs.
