India missed Cheteshwar Pujara's approach vs New Zealand: Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble felt that an 'attacking' India missed Cheteshwar Pujara-like approach in their collapse in the 1st Test against New Zealand. In Shubman Gill's absence, Virat Kohli batted at No. 3 and fell for a duck.
by India Today Sports Desk · India TodayIn Short
- Virat Kohli falls for a duck while batting at No. 3 vs New Zealand
- Kohli was promoted at No. 3 in Shubman Gill's absence
- India suffered a batting collapse in 1st Test with 5 batters scoring ducks
Former India cricketer Anil Kumble criticised the decision to send Virat Kohli at No. 3 on Day 2 of the 1st Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17, Thursday. On a day India's batting witnessed a massive collapse, Kumble said that the team missed Cheteshwar Pujara's approach. Kumble felt that India were looking to attack and needed a batter like Pujara, who would have taken a cautious approach to hold the fort from the other end.
"Virat Kohli should have batted at No. 4, he is your No.1 batter at that position. For the number three position, someone like Cheteshwar Pujara, who did so well for so many years playing there. 100 Test matches because he would have been there today, then he would have. You know, I don't think he would have gone looking to hit the ball. He would allow the ball to come on and that's where you miss someone like that. Kind of an approach today. And India is certainly in a spot of bother here," Kumble told Jio Cinema.
India missing Pujara?
Meanwhile, Pujara, who was India's go-to No. 3 batter in Tests for nearly a decade, was out of India's scheme of things after the World Test Championship 2023 final. Gill replaced him at No. 3 during the Test series against West Indies last year and is aiming to cement his place. Throughout his career, Pujara rescued India from precarious situations of collapse with his solid resolve and defence.
Kohli falls for a duck
Kohli was promoted to No. 3 in Shubman Gill's absence, who missed out from the playing XI due to stiffness in his neck. In overcast conditions, Kohli walked into bat after Rohit Sharma's dismissal. This was the first time in eight years that the star batter moved to the No. 3 position in Test cricket for India. Kohli's record at the No.3 spot wasn't a great one. The star batter has played 6 matches in the spot and has scored just 97 runs at an average of 16.16. This was the first time he had been dismissed for a duck while batting at No.3.