'That's unforgivable': Virat Kohli under fire over 'selfish' act
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has drawn the ire of his usually loyal home fans, after unsuccessfully burning a DRS review on his own LBW shout.
Batting in the second Test against New Zealand after being sent in by the hosts, India found themselves at 3/85 when Kohli came to the crease.
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Hoping the superstar batsman would help them wriggle out of somewhat of a jam, as Kohli has countless times before, fans were instead dismayed when Kohli reviewed an LBW shout which, on replay, showed the ball would have cannoned into his middle stump.
Having seen Kohli sent packing by Tim Southee for just three, fans were left frustrated by the latest in a string of instances in which the Indian captain unsuccessfully reviewed his own wicket.
In Test matches, Kohli has reviewed his own wicket no less than 13 times - successfully on only two occasions.
India recovered somewhat by the end of the first day, but fans were nonetheless irate about the wasted review.
Cricket is a team sport. But not for Virat Kohli. Clearly put himself ahead of the team, yet again.
2/13 (15%) successful reviews against LBW decisions in tests.
7 more wickets left, last review and wasting it on such a straightforward LBW is unforgivable. #NZvInd pic.twitter.com/gG2dteK60Q— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) February 29, 2020
Virat Kohli DRS reviews (as batsman) in Tests since 2016
14 referrals
Nine stuck down
Three umpire's calls
Two overturned
Last successful review: vs SL, Kolkata, 2017/18 (Umpire: Joel Wilson)#NZvIND— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) February 29, 2020
Is that stupidest DRS ever? Worse than Watto! #Kohli #NZvIND
— Narayana Kashyap (@kashnarayana) February 29, 2020
Selfish Kohli...Let others also use the reviews..He is letting down himself as well as the team#NZvIND
— Shreesh kadur (@shreesh_kadur) February 29, 2020
Kohli going through the most desperate phase of his career? Or has he already seen and surmounted worse? The review was pure desperation. https://t.co/AHYrDPZZIF
— Mohamed Zeeshan (@ZeeMohamed_) February 29, 2020
Battling a rare form slump, Kohli told reporters earlier in the week that he wasn’t concerned about finding form.
"I am absolutely fine, I am batting really well," Kohli said.
“I feel that sometimes that scores don't reflect the way you are batting.
"I know the chat on the outside changes with one inning, but I don't think like that. If I thought about people on the outside, I would be outside right now."
ICC Test rankings at stake for India
India's batsmen will have to adjust to what are expected to be pace-friendly conditions and tight New Zealand bowling, and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane said they would be more positive in Christchurch.
"It's important to trust ourselves and not think about the last match," Rahane said.
"We just have to have fresh mindsets and it's all about being in the present."
India were unbeaten in their seven previous matches in the International Cricket Council's World Test Championship and lead the standings on 360 points.
Rahane added it was imperative they won in Christchurch to continue their march to the final at Lord's in 2021.
"We all know that 60 points are at stake," Rahane said.
"If we win the test match then we will be far ahead (of second-placed Australia).
"It's not (always) about winning the test series."
WITH AAP
