IND vs NZ | Twitter stunned as Kohli falls to new low after succumbing to innocuous Santner full toss

10/25/2024

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Numbers can never really tell the complete story of a player's form but there invariably comes a moment in each slump to highlight just how bad things are. Friday produced one such instance for Virat Kohli as he failed to contend with a straightforward full toss to leave India reeling in Pune.

India endured a horrid start to Day 2 as Shubman Gill departed within the first hour of play for 30 before Virat Kohli followed suit after a brief nine-ball stay, thus leaving the team struggling at 57/3 in pursuit pf New Zealand's first innings total of 259. It was a fifth under-20 score for the talisman across his last eight Test innings but more concerning was the manner in which the dismissal came, instantly ushering silence in an exuberant Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

The veteran was up against left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner who was trundling in from around the stumps. The wily Kiwi operator floated the fourth ball of his 24th over extremely full, trying to entice Kohli into going on the attack, but ended up going too far with his plan and the delivery ended up as a full toss. Kohli instinctively went down on one knee, hoping to slap the ball towards leg for an easy boundary, but much to everyone's shock the batter's half-hearted attempt ended up missing the line of the ball as the red cherry skidded straight on to dismantle the stumps.

Kohli was livid with himself for getting out in such dismal manner, much like Twitterati.

Oh hell no!

— alex (@AlexHivklzzyh)

Cleaned up

Mitchell Santner Cleans Up Virat Kohli for just 1!
— Jega8 (@imBK08)

Yup

Can happen even to the greats. That is a replay that Virat will never want to see.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)

Sad

Virat Kohli jab apna shot dekhega 😭
— Raja Babu (@GaurangBhardwa1)

Dismissed

Virat Kohli was dismissed for just 1 run...!!!
— Ayush Bisht Sports (@ayushbisht1290)

Unreal

Virat Kohli gone for 1. How do you miss that full toss??

Unreal mannnn😭😭😭😭
— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak)

Good question

What kind of a shot was that? Clearly Virat Kohli eye sight has gone down. It has affected his reflexes. You can see it his fielding too. Too many misfieldings
— BRUTU #AUG21 ❤️ (@Brutu24)

True

I felt Ian Smith when he said "This is our unlike Virat Kohli dismissal it should be kept in the museum" Thats disappointing
— Cricket under microscope (@cricketmicrosc)

Massive wicket