'Played the worst shot of his career to get out' - Sanjay Manjrekar disapproves of Virat Kohli's dismissal

How ace India batter, Virat Kohli, sprung out to the middle after Shubman Gill was trapped plumb in front seemed to be just the start of a wave of intensity he seemed to have brought out to the middle. However, it was not to be as Kohli was dismissed after facing only nine deliveries while contributing just a solitary run to India's scoreboard. 

Nevertheless, it was the sheer manner in which Kohli was dismissed that prompted former India cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar, to upload a harsh tweet in relation to the former India captain. However, he did state that he did sympathise with him.

Check the post below:

Oh dear! Virat will know himself that he has just played the worst shot of his career to get out. Got to feel for him…coz as always he came out with solid & honest intent.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 25, 2024

A Mitchell Santner delivery that dipped a tad bit was uncharacteristically attempted to be swept by Kohli, who ended up yorking himself as the ball snuck beneath the bat. Kohli was quite evidently vexed with himself, as he trudged back to the pavilion with a packed MCA Stadium hushed to deathly silence. The choice of shot was something that came out as a surprise due to Kohli not being one of the batters to be unleashing the sweep that early on in the innings.

Virat Kohli out 🥺🥺🥺#ViratKohli #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/49ytD5Jewv

— Virat (@chiku_187) October 25, 2024

Also Read: 'Playing in domestic cricket could have benefited' - Anil Kumble after Virat Kohli's poor dismissal in Pune Test

It was four for the taking: Shastri

Former India head coach, Ravi Shastri, who was commentating at that particular juncture, was of the opinion that Kohli could have dealt with the delivery in a risk-free fashion rather than the shot he played. 

"Very similar delivery, he could have taken it on the full and hit it towards mid-on. This was an easier ball to put away because this was on the full. Instead, he went far too across. He could have played it with a straighter bat and put it in the gap. It was four for the taking," observed Shastri.

Also Read: IND vs NZ 2024: Mitchell Santner’s seven-fer questions India’s preparation for home conditions

Kohli's scores in the three innings in the series read 0, 70, and 1 up until now. For India to even think of victory considering the ease at which the Kiwis are navigating through the Indian spinners, Kohli would have to play out of his skin to come anywhere close to the target New Zealand are poised to set the hosts.