WTC final: Virat Kohli shakes leg on the tunes of Southampton crowd to keep morale high

India might not have had the best of days in the middle after New Zealand bagged seven wickets for just 71 runs on the third day of the World Test Championship final to dismiss them for 217, but the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, looked in the groove, keeping the morale of the team up as he shook his leg while fielding in the slips.

Notably, the Covid-19 situation in the United Kingdom has largely been under control, which has meant that crowds have been allowed to witness live action inside the stadium. Although much lower than the full strength, the Ageas Bowl still has close to 4000 spectators in attendance, who have kept the atmosphere lit and buzzing. So much so that beating drums and instruments forced Kohli to perform a brief and perky performance, acknowledging the atmosphere around. 

India lost 7 for 71 on Day 3

Speaking of dance, New Zealand’s tall pacer Kyle Jamieson made the Dukes ball dance to his tunes on a clammy, overcast morning at Southampton after India resumed action from 146/3 with Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the middle. Even before the Indian skipper could have gotten off the mark on the third day, Jamieson pinned him lbw with a one that jagged slightly in from a fuller length. Despite challenging the on-field umpire’s call, Kohli had to walk back on his overnight score of 44 with ball-tracking lighting up three reds.

Soon afterwards, Jamieson got Rishabh Pant caught behind, luring him into the drive and successfully inducing an edge for the second slip to gulp. While India would have hoped Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to assist Rahane in building up the first-innings lead, the Indian vice-captain deposited a short ball from Neil Wagner straight to square leg, leaving India in a bit of a soup while also missing his half-century by a run. 

Jadeja and Ashwin, who were billed to add depth to India’s batting, could not vindicate much either, as Ashwin edged Tim Southee to slips for 22 after a brief 23-run stand with Jadeja, while any hopes of the tail wagging did not turn even remotely true either. Jamieson dismissed Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah on consecutive deliveries to pick his fifth fifer in just eight Tests before Trent Boult got Jadeja caught behind as he nicked a ball drifting down the leg side.