Mon Dec 16 14:57:22 UTC 2024: ## Gavaskar Slams Kohli’s Shot Selection in Disappointing Third Test Dismissal
**Brisbane, Australia** – Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has sharply criticized Virat Kohli’s poor shot selection after the Indian captain was dismissed for a paltry three runs in the first innings of the third Test against Australia. Gavaskar, known for his direct commentary, stated that Kohli’s dismissal, caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Josh Hazlewood, was entirely avoidable.
“It was wide, on the seventh, eighth stump, you could say. There’s no need to play that,” Gavaskar declared on Channel 7. He emphasized that while a risky shot might be understandable if the ball were closer to the stumps, Kohli’s attempt at playing a delivery so far outside off-stump was a significant error.
Gavaskar highlighted the context of Kohli’s dismissal, noting the substantial Australian first-innings total of 445 and the crucial need for India’s captain to deliver a substantial score. He expressed his belief that Kohli would be deeply disappointed with his performance, particularly given the challenging Gabba pitch.
“If Kohli had shown a bit of patience he could be not out with KL Rahul,” Gavaskar added, pointing to the rain interruption that followed Kohli’s dismissal as a missed opportunity. He suggested that Kohli’s struggles stem from a persistent tendency to play cover drives, even when the ball is outside the off-stump, a flaw that even rigorous net practice hasn’t managed to correct. Gavaskar implied that Kohli should emulate Sachin Tendulkar’s approach to such deliveries, particularly on the notoriously bouncy Australian pitches.
First Piper 