We are in Virat Kohli’s mind, says Hayden
BANGALORE: Former Australia opening batsman, Matthew Hayden, believes the visitors have managed to rattle India skipper Virat Kohli after the home team’s best batsman was dismissed cheaply for the third time, in the second Test in Bangalore.
Indian cricket fans have been stunned by their batsmen thrice capitulating against Aussie spinners. It was left-arm Steve O’Keefe’s 12/70 that did them in at the Pune Test while off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed 8/50 to dismiss India for 189 on Day 1 of the second Test on Saturday.
Virat Kohli has been dismissed for 0, 13 and 12, falling to spin on the last two occasions while not offering a shot. Kohli had struck a double century in each of his last four Test series but was bowled shoulder arms against O’Keefe in the second innings of the Pune Test and trapped leg before against Lyon in Bangalore, again pulling his bat away.
Former batsman, Mark Waugh, criticised Virat Kohli.
“That’s a brain fade,” Waugh told Australia’s Fox News. “I know the ball before bounced and hit him on the thigh-pad and he’s a bit worried about those two men on the leg side, but that’s bread-and-butter for an Indian batsman, a class player. You just tuck that off the hip.
“It was very un-Kohli like. He made a point of saying ‘we need to play with much more intent in this game’ but he’s been the prime example of not actually doing that.”
Hayden believes India are fatigued at the end of an exhausting home season.
Starting against New Zealand in the third week of September, India are playing their 11th Test, which included a five-match series versus England. In between, they also played limited-overs series against the Kiwis and England.
IN KOHLI’S MIND
The Aussies love to target the best player in the opposition ranks, and Virat Kohli’s worries must please them no end.
“It’s been a pretty long summer for India, so far,” Hayden told cricket.com.au.
“We (Australia) are in Virat’s mind. We’re in the whole country’s mind, actually, because (there) was such a huge build up to this series.