Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra has criticised the dismissals of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara in the second innings of the Mumbai Test. Both were dismissed for ducks in the first innings and failed to continue and get big scores after getting starts in the second.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 47 off 97 balls and Virat Kohli gleaned an 84-ball 36. But both lost their wickets getting out in a mode of dismissal in which they have previously dismissed as well. Chopra said that while Pujara’s score of 47 is not a bad one it also shows his problems in recent times of not converting starts into big scores.
Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Aakash Chopra On Kohli, Pujara Dismissals
“Is the glass half full or half empty? … He has certainly scored runs, albeit missed his half-century. He couldn’t open his account in the first innings so 47 in the second innings is not a bad return. From one point of view, it’s OK that he has got some runs under his belt. But the fact is that he didn’t score a century here either. And if that won’t happen, the way forward will be very tough.”
“I think he’s doing alright, he’s doing just enough to stay in the side. You also want to give him a longer rope… But when you look at the bigger picture then you feel that it’s high time he scored runs and centuries” he further added.
— Cricsphere (@Cricsphere) December 6, 2021
Regarding Virat Kohli’s dismissal in the second innings, he said that since Kohli played all formats for India, he contributes in all of them which is why his failures go unnoticed.
“His case is different from Kohli’s because we see Kohli play every week… He plays all formats so the wheel keeps moving, runs keep coming from somewhere or the other… When you play continuously, you make those important contributions, and [think that] the century will come. But as Pujara plays only Tests – last he played in September and will next play in South Africa and Sri Lanka – then the gaps are bigger and his case becomes difficult.”
Virat Kohli as Test captain:
Matches – 66.
Wins – 39.
Lost – 16.
Draw – 11.At Home:
Matches – 31.
Won – 24.
Lost – 2.– One of the greatest of all time record for Virat!
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 6, 2021
Meanwhile, the latest Test win against the Kiwis was his 39th in 66 Test matches as captain. He has lost 16 and drawn 11 of them. At home, his record as captain speaks for himself. This was his 24th win in 31 matches. He has lost just two Test matches in the meantime.
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