England vs India, 5th Test: Virat Kohli shouldn’t worry about 1st innings dismissal too much, says Graeme Swann
India Today
India tour of England: Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann said Virat Kohli was unlucky in the first innings of the Birmingham Test as the former captain got out for 11 after playing a wide delivery from Matty Potts onto his stumps.
Virat Kohli need not worry too much about the manner in which he got out in the first innings of the rescheduled 5th Test against England in Birmingham as he looked composed during his brief stay in the middle, according to former England off-spinner Grame Swann.
Kohli got out for 11 on Day 1 of the series finale after England won the toss and opted to bowl. Young Matthew Potts got the big wicket as Kohli got an inside edge onto the stumps while leaving indecisive about a leave outside off-stump.
Kohli hit 2 boundaries for his 19-ball 11 but another early end to his stay in the middle raised concerns about his form, or the lack of it. Kohli was expected to get back among the runs after he impressed in the 4-day warming-up match against Leicestershire in June but his stay in the middle came to an early end in the first innings.
“I must sayapart from that inside edge (after Lunch) and the ball he got out today, Kohli looked really composed out there. if you see his legs, he was trying to get outside the off-stump. I am going to say he was quite unlucky,” Swann told Sony Sports.
Kohli had to overcome a stop-start phase on Day 1 as rain led to an hour’s delay on Day 1 of the Birmingham Test. Kohli resumed batting after the Lunch break but the former captain was not able to get going and score a big one.
“I don’t think he should worry too much about that. He looked composed and he was hungry for runs. And he looked devastated when he got out. I was looking at this, when a top-order batter gets out, if they just walk off, it doesn’t look right. He didn’t, he looked devastated as he wanted it today,” Swann said.
SWANN BACKS KOHLI