Kohli cranky as Australia consign India to heavy defeat
Steve Smith drew first blood in the battle of the captains as Virat Kohli’s hot temper threatened to boil over during the final day of India’s humiliating first test defeat.
There could not have been more stark contrast between the pair’s fortunes. As Smith joyously celebrated his maiden test century in India, Kohli was losing his stack as he realised his team was crashing to a heavy defeat.
Kohli has matured with age, but he remains a firebrand who wears his heart on his sleeve. The sight of him berating his team-mates has not gone unnoticed by the Australians, who have seen how India can crumble when their captain is not leading the charge with sword and shield.
Three days of dominance by Australia clearly took its toll on Kohli, whose thought processes deteriorated as markedly as the Pune pitch.
Kohli could do nothing about the string of shelled chances in the field, but the responsibility for burning India’s reviews on ambitious challenges rests squarely at his feet.
India’s erroneous use of DRS – which their board were long-time opponents of – left them powerless to overturn not out calls to Smith and Matthew Wade.
Topping it off, Kohli shouldered arms and was bowled by a straight ball from Steve O’Keefe, who even on this wicket had not been extracting prodigious turn.
His match tally of 13 was his lowest in a test at home where he had batted both innings.
‘‘He was getting a little bit angry at the fielders for dropping catches,’’ Smith noted after the match.
‘‘Players miss out every now and again and fortunately he missed out this game.’’
Kohli’s mood was no brighter in his post-match press conference. He made it clear India’s failures with the bat were responsible for the shock result - and not Steve O’Keefe’s canny left-arm spin.
‘‘If you don’t apply yourself, any bowling attack can look dangerous,’’ Kohli quipped, when asked about O’Keefe’s 12-wicket match haul.
‘‘It’s as simple as that. Even a part-timer can get four wickets if you don’t apply yourself.
‘‘How badly we batted in the first innings is the main reason why couldn’t get back into the game.
Smith made the most of six chances to play an innings he rated as up there with his best, though he has plenty to choose from.
None have arguably been as important as this one, coming in a series opener in a region where Australia seldom have success and on a surface where it was only a matter of time before your number came up.
‘‘I rode my luck and had a few lives, but you need a bit of luck on a wicket like that,’’ Smith said.
‘‘I was pleased to score a second innings hundred in India, formulate a different plan to how I normally play and problem solve on the spot.
‘‘From that aspect I’m pleased
with myself. It was great to get such a big lead and give our bowlers plenty to bowl at.’’
The expectations on Australia are bound to rise after their upset win in Pune, which means even if India were to bounce back in the next two tests, the series will still be alive heading into the final match in Dharamsala.
Unless, of course, Australia continue their dominance in
Bangalore and Ranchi.
‘‘The pressure was off us. Everyone wrote us off and expected India to win 4-0,’’ Smith said. ‘‘That can’t happen any more.
‘‘It’s great to have won this first test match. There’s still a long way to go and India will come back hard. I’m really proud the way the boys have played this test match.’’
Sydney Morning Herald and AAP