In a dramatic turn of events during the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma made a significant revelation following Virat Kohli’s duck. Kohli, who had not batted at number three for eight years, walked out to bat at that position but was dismissed for a nine-ball duck by William O’Rourke
SOURCE : ZEE
Rohit Sharma, addressing the media in the post-match press conference, shared insights into the decision to have Kohli bat at number three. “Yes, he is a local boy. So he has to bat at 3? (laughs). After a long time, KL Rahul has found a spot at No. 6. We want to make him bat there. The experienced players are the ones who have to take up more responsibility. This time, it was Virat. He was the one who was ready to do that.”
Source:- bbc news
The decision to have Kohli bat at number three was part of a strategic move by the Indian team management to shuffle the batting order and give opportunities to different players.
Rohit Sharma also mentioned that they had considered other players for their usual positions, but ultimately decided to stick with Kohli at number three. “We asked him whether he could bat at No. 3. Sarfaraz, we also wanted to give him the position that he usually bats — 4, 5 and 6. We didn’t want to change Rishabh and KL. Hence, Sarfaraz went at No. 4 and Virat at No. 3.”
Kohli’s dismissal for a duck was a disappointing moment for the Indian team, especially given his recent struggles at the number three position. Over the past few matches, Kohli had scored only 97 runs from six matches at an average of 16.16. His inability to convert starts into big scores has been a concern for the team, and his latest duck only added to the pressure on him to perform
Despite the setback, Rohit Sharma remained optimistic about the team’s chances in the match. “We know Virat is a world class player, and he will bounce back stronger. This is just a minor hiccup, and we are confident that he will come good in the upcoming matches.”
The first Test between India and New Zealand saw the Indian team struggle with the bat, being bowled out for a paltry 46 runs in their first innings. New Zealand responded strongly, posting 180 runs for 3 wickets in their first innings. The match is finely poised, with India needing to put up a strong performance in their second innings to stay in the contest.
Rohit Sharma’s decision to have Virat Kohli bat at number three and his subsequent comments have sparked a lot of discussion among fans and experts. Many have praised the captain’s leadership and strategic thinking, while others have questioned the wisdom of the decision given Kohli’s recent form.
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