Tue Dec 17 12:38:24 UTC 2024: ## Kohli’s Wide Delivery Weakness Costs India Again in Brisbane Test
**Brisbane, Australia –** Virat Kohli’s struggles against wide deliveries continued to plague India on Day 3 of the third Test against Australia at the Gabba. The Indian captain, chasing a wide ball from Josh Hazlewood, was caught behind for just three runs, leaving India struggling at 22/3 in their chase of Australia’s massive first-innings total of 445.
This dismissal marked another instance of Kohli falling prey to the Australian seamers’ tactics, particularly Hazlewood’s ability to exploit the outside edge. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar criticized Kohli’s shot selection, highlighting a recurring pattern of chasing wide balls throughout the series. While acknowledging Kohli’s earlier dismissals were perhaps unavoidable, Gavaskar stated that the Day 3 dismissal was a self-inflicted wound, a shot that could have been easily left alone. Gavaskar also pointed to a similar shot played against Mitchell Starc, expressing concern over this repeated pattern of attacking deliveries outside off-stump.
Gavaskar urged Kohli to adopt a more patient approach, advising him to wait for better scoring opportunities rather than aggressively pursuing wide deliveries early in the innings. He suggested adjustments to Kohli’s batting stance, recommending a more patient approach than his usual aggressive style. Kohli’s century in the Perth Test remains his only fifty-plus score in five innings this series, highlighting the ongoing challenge he faces.
First Piper 