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'Can't explain': Virat Kohli under fire over 'poor' move

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Virat Kohli (pictured) kneels down during the match between Australia and India.
Virat Kohli (pictured) has come under some criticism for his captaincy after the two losses to Australia. (Getty Images)

Former Indian player Gautam Gambhir has hit out at current captain Virat Kohli after falling behind Australia 2-0 in the three-match ODI series.

Virat Kohli has crafted his first substantial score of the summer but the ease in which Australia continue to plunder runs will cause India's captain some concern.

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David Warner (83), Aaron Finch (60) Steve Smith (104), Marnus Labuschagne (70) and Glenn Maxwell (63no) all scored freely during Sunday's ODI, when the tourists were forced to toil in 40C heat before a southerly change brought the temperature down.

Australia amassed a total of 4-389 at the SCG, marking the second time in ODI history that every member of a team's top five have passed 50.

The touring bowlers failed to create any sustained pressure.

But in the second ODI, Gambhir criticised Kohli’s decision to only allow Jasprit Bumrah two overs at the start of the innings.

After a strong start from the Aussies, Bumrah was brought back in the 9th over and was used in short spells throughout the innings.

Gambhir took aim at Kohli’s decisions and said there needed to be greater importance on taking early wickets against the in-form Aussie attack.

Virat Kohli looks on after Australia won the series during game two of the One Day International series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on November 29, 2020 in Sydney, Australia.
Virat Kohli looks on after Australia won the series during game two of the One Day International series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on November 29, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“We kept talking about how important it is to take wickets upfront if we have to stop this kind of batting line-up and then you make your premier bowler bowl two overs,” Gambhir told ESPNCricinfo after the first innings.

“Normally, in a one-day game probably there are three spells of 4-3-3 overs. Or probably the maximum is four overs.

India's captain Virat Kohli touches fists with Australia's captain Aaron Finch after their one-day cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on November 29, 2020.
India's captain Virat Kohli touches fists with Australia's captain Aaron Finch after their one-day cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney on November 29, 2020. (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

“But if you stop your premier fast bowler just by bowling two overs upfront with the news, I can’t understand that kind of captaincy.

“I probably can’t even explain that captaincy. It is not T20 cricket. I probably can’t understand the reason to be honest because that was poor captaincy.”

Harbhajan Singh echoes Kohli criticism

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also took aim at Kohli’s attempt to manage the bowlers.

“New ball is a very good weapon and India will have to find a way to use it in these Australian conditions,” he told the India Times.

“Virat could have managed the bowlers a little better. When Shami was bowling better, he could have stuck to him for longer, and tried to set up a tighter field to build pressure.”

Despite being unable to contain the Australian onslaught, India have chased admirably in the first two ODIs and have surpassed scored of 300 on both occasions.

with AAP

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