Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s ongoing battle with spin bowling continued to trouble him in the second Test against New Zealand at the MCA Stadium in Pune. On Friday, the star Indian batter was clean bowled for just 1 by New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.
The dismissal occurred when Kohli misjudged a low full toss, failing to connect as the ball slipped under his bat and crashed into the stumps, leaving him visibly frustrated.
Scorecard: India vs New Zealand, 2nd Test
Kohli’s struggle with spin has become a recurring theme, particularly in Asian conditions. This latest dismissal marks the 21st time since 2021 that he has fallen to spin in Asia. Kohli, a dominant force in Test cricket with over 9,000 runs to his name, has seen his form against spin noticeably decline over the past few years.
Earlier in the series, during the first Test in Bengaluru, Kohli was dismissed in similar fashion. While batting on 70, he was dismissed by New Zealand spinner Glenn Phillips in the second innings. India went on to lose the match by 8 wickets to trail the three-match series 0-1.
Kohli’s troubles against spin, especially left-arm orthodox spinners like Santner, have become a glaring concern. Since 2021, out of his 21 dismissals to spinners, 10 have been at the hands of left-arm orthodox bowlers, against whom he averages 27.10.
In total, Kohli has managed just 606 runs against spinners during this period in Asian conditions, with an average of 28.85 – far below the high standards he set in his career.
As India battled to recover from New Zealand’s first-innings score of 259, Kohli’s early exit put the team in a difficult position. By lunch on the second day, India had slumped to 107/7, with the visitors’ spinners tightening their grip on the match. Kohli’s dismissal, in particular, exacerbated India’s struggles, as they sought to gain momentum in the series following their loss in the first Test.
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