Indian commentators are quite harsh on Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes’ ball was unplayable: Graeme Swann

Former English spinner Graeme Swann has come in Virat Kohli‘s defence after his dismissal on the final session of the third day’s play in the rescheduled fifth Test match at Edgbaston, saying that the Indian commentators were quite harsh on him even though he was dismissed off an unplayable delivery from Ben Stokes.

Swann said that the delivery bowled by Stokes to a well-set Kohli was an unplayable one that would have got the better of any batter. Terming the delivery as a “ripsnorter”, the cricketer-turned-commentator went on to say that a batter just has no chance to see that kind of delivery coming irrespective of whether he tries to play on the front foot or the back foot.

That is unplayable: Graeme Swann

“You can say what you want, I don’t care, who is batting in any period of Test history if you can survive that delivery you are very, very lucky. That is unplayable. It’s a lucky catch in the end,” Swann said while speaking to Sony Sports.

“Regardless, if you are looking to get on the front foot, back foot that ball is a ripsnorter. For an English point of view, I often find that whenever Indian commentators talk about Virat, I always think ‘wow they are quite harsh on him’. The standards are so high for Virat, I thought he was very at ease today,” he added.

In the second innings Kohli looked in great touch having a played his signature cover drive and it seemed as if he was in a strong position to convert his good start into a big knock. Unfortunately for the batting megastar that was not to be as he was done by the extra bounce from Stokes which took the outside edge of his bat. Sam Billings failed to collect the ball properly behind the stumps as he fluffed it, but Joe Root standing at the slips showed a great presence of mind to complete the catch.

Kohli walked back for 20 and while he was on his way to the pavilion he was mocked by the English fans for his on-field incident with Jonny Bairstow earlier in the day,