‘Kya Faeda, 10 Pe Out Hoga’ Kohli Practices ‘Special Shot’ Before Test 2 But Fans Lack Faith

The Test cricket captain for India, Virat Kohli could be seen putting in the effort during a practice session ahead of the second of three Test matches between India and South Africa which is scheduled to take place from January 3rd at the Wanderers Stadium in Sandton.

In a video shared by the official Twitter handle of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kohli was captured while practicing his defence against bowlers, presumably pacers, in the longest format of the game.

We are here at The Wanderers to prepare for the 2nd Test

New Day
New Year
New Start
Same Focus

Lets GO #TeamIndia | #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/S2vXnumhMD

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 1, 2022

In the first match against the Proteas at the Centurion, Kohli got dismissed in both his innings while trying to step out for a delivery directed outside of his off-stump, as he hoped to hit his iconic cover drive for the boundary ropes. Each time, the ball edged on his bat and either went to the wicket-keeper or one of the fielders set at slip.

Marco Jansen bringing the magic on debut #SAvIND #FreedomTestSeries #BetwayTestSeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/7cYIorUwsY

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 29, 2021

Call it a force of habit, natural instinct or just the good old ego of an elite-level batter, but Kohli’s recent dismissals across different series in different countries have been mostly due to this very shot of his that he continues to attempt in every single match.

Virat Kohli practicing ahead of the second Test against South Africa. pic.twitter.com/bwLRWXhlpj

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 1, 2022

However, it became extremely evident especially during the Test series against England (which remains unfinished and is expected to resume in June, 2022) during which the English pacers led by James Anderson dismissed the Indian skipper five out of five times by bowling outside of off-stump and getting an outer edge.

WOWWWW! @jimmy9 gets Kohli first ball and Trent Bridge is absolutely rocking!

Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/5eQO5BWXUp#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/g06S0e4GN7

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2021

As a result, the fans of the Indian cricket team, who once cheered and backed their skipper up during the 2018 season, when he whitewashed the ICC Awards and dominated international cricket across all formats, have lost faith in Kohli’s batting abilities and are expecting yet another disappointing innings out of the skipper at the Wanderers cricket ground.

It did not take long for them to hope on Twitter and express their disappointed expectations from the skipper after the pictures of his practice sessions made their way online:

I recommend not playing outside off stump balls for sheer comfort and long innings.

Leg side balls you can bet on it. pic.twitter.com/eFkxq7eWuR

— RK (@Rakeshk72798087) January 1, 2022

All This For 30Runs

— ً (@GoatRo45) January 1, 2022

Kya fayda score to 0 hi karna hai

— Cricket wala ladka (@cricketwalaldka) January 1, 2022

That won’t make him better than Rahane

— H. (@Harshal_1718) January 1, 2022

18 run banane ke liye to zyada mehnat karra banda

— maymaywala (@maymaywala) January 1, 2022

It has been over 25 months since Kohli scored an international cricket century in any of three formats of the game. His 136-run inning against the visiting Bangladesh side during the first-ever pink-ball Test which was played in the subcontinent back in November 2019 remains his most recent three-digit feat.