IND vs AUS: Kohli's outside off-stump struggles continue with Gabba Test dismissal, Gavaskar urges batter to be patient

Virat Kohli’s struggles in dealing with outside off-stump deliveries continued on Monday after he was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood on the third day of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane. Kohli managed to score just three runs from 16 deliveries before making the long walk back to the pavilion just ahead of the lunch break.

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On Monday, Hazlewood delivered a full-length ball outside off-stump to Virat Kohli, and instead of just leaving the ball, the former India captain attempted for a drive. That resulted in an outside edge off the bat which flew to the safe hands of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

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Josh Hazlewood gets Virat Kohli!

The Australians are up and about on Day Three. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/sq6oYZmZAz

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 16, 2024

This is not the first time Kohli has been dismissed in such a fashion. Kohli was dismissed in a similar fashion by Mitchell Starc during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide last week, with the Delhi-born batter managing just seven runs. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar had cited Kohli’s declining average to his struggles with playing deliveries outside off-stump.

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“One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially, his adamance to not try another way to tackle it,” Manjrekar had posted on “X” during the second Test.

One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now, is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially his adamance to not try another way to tackle it.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 6, 2024

Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar suggested that Kohli follow the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar and urged the Delhi batter to be patient. “Virat Kohli has to be patient, just like his role model Sachin Tendulkar. Remember Sachin’s 241 in Sydney? He didn’t play shots on the off side, not even his favourite cover drive. He has such a strong bottom hand. He can play straight or towards mid-wicket so well. He needs to do exactly that, just stop playing towards off," Gavaskar told broadcasters Star Sports.

Several fans also expressed their displeasure on Kohli’s dismissal, with some even calling for te 36-year-old to retire. Here are a few reactions:

Virat kohli retire and stay at London forever

— Dhaanush (@SuperSportsmass) December 16, 2024

#INDvsAUS
Virat Kohli and rohit sharma not test players, they exposed badly with this technique, thy must retire otherwise BCCI must fired them..

— Mukesh Dudi (@Mkdudi0) December 16, 2024

VIRAT KOHLI RETIRE ASAP

— NakedGuy❤️🇸🇬 (@debarshi_shivam) December 16, 2024

Virat Kohli should learn from Dhoni and retire from Test cricket. Why does the BCCI waste so much time on these once-great but now finished players? #ViratKohli #AUSvIND

— Makanichirag (@Makanichirag1) December 16, 2024

Kohli has so far aggregated just 126 runs from five innings at an average of 31.50 in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series. At the time of writing this report, India were 27/3 in their first innings reply to Australia’s 445, still trailing the hosts by 418 runs when rain stopped play on Monday. KL Rahul (14*) and Rishabh Pant (4*) were the unbeaten batters. The five-match series is currently level 1-1 with India having won the first Test in Perth whereas Australia clinched the second Test in Adelaide.