India’s recent ODI whitewash at the hands of Sri Lanka was a bitter pill to swallow, and the batting woes of Virat Kohli once again dominated the post-match discourse. However, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has offered a more nuanced perspective on the matter.
The island nation’s turning tracks proved to be a formidable challenge for the entire Indian batting lineup. Kohli in particular, found the difficult to manage just 61 runs across three matches. The King Kohli aura, once synonymous with dominance, seemed momentarily eclipsed by the spin-friendly conditions.
Karthik, known for his candid opinions, didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. “Look, let’s be honest,” he said on Cricbuzz. “These pitches, especially between overs eight and 30, were a nightmare for everyone. Kohli’s included. It’s unfair to pin it all on him. The ball was turning square, and it was hard work for everyone.”
The veteran wicketkeeper, who shared the dressing room with Kohli at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, emphasized the extraordinary nature of the pitches. “It’s not like we see tracks like this everywhere. India hasn’t played on such turning decks in a while. It was a tough ask for the batters,” Karthik added.
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Virat’s Struggle
While Kohli’s struggles against spin have been a recurring theme in recent times, Karthik’s comments offer a much-needed counterpoint. The focus now shifts to how the Indian team can adapt to such challenging conditions and whether Kohli can rediscover his mojo when the pitches are more conducive to batting.
