“Struggling Even On Flat Pitch”: Kohli Sledges NZ Batter But Ends Up Scoring An Own Goal

When Virat Kohli is on the field there is no dearth of aggression. Irrespective of the team’s position in the match, he is someone who always likes to be in the face of the opposition all the time.

While Indian fans love his passion and aggression, sometimes the skipper does too much and ends up getting bashed on the internet. 

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On Day 2 of the second Test in Mumbai, the Indian bowlers were on a roll having picked up four wickets with just 27 runs on the scoreboard. Clearly, the visitors were on the backfoot and were trying hard to bring their innings back on track by stringing together a partnership of some sort.

However, Kohli didn’t want to give the Blackcaps an inch and started sledging Henry Nicholls who was batting alongside Tom Blundell. The Indian skipper was caught on the stump mic mocking Nicholls saying “he’s even struggling on flat pitch”.

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It’s hard to say how much of an effect it had on Nicholls but he didn’t last long after that. Like most New Zealand batters, he lacked the technique to deal with India’s world-class spin attack, getting out to a peach of a delivery from Ravichandran Ashwin which rattled his timbers.

Kohli’s comments left the fans divided and even sparked a huge debate on social media. Those in support argued that it was this energy that was missing from the series opener in Kanpur and they were happy to see Kohli making things hostile for the touring party.

Missed him so much..aiinkya rahane is so plain..no reaction on a wicket..no banter.. it gets boring

— Muskan Aggarwal (@muskan401) December 4, 2021

That’s we were missing in Kanpur

— Deep Point (@ittzz_spidey) December 4, 2021

We missed this in the 1st test

— ArnavTalksCricket (@TweetsByArnav) December 4, 2021

Captain Kohli

— Sankalp #RahaneOut (@SankalpRaikar77) December 4, 2021

That’s thing we missed in kanpur

— viren oswal (@OswalViren) December 4, 2021 

On the other hand a large section of fans felt that with New Zealand’s back already against the wall, there was no need for the Indian captain to open his mouth and mock the opposition batter like that, especially when he himself got out for a duck in the first innings. 

Being part of the Indian team for over a decade, Kohli doesn’t need anyone to tell him what to do on a cricket field. If you ask him he would say his words did the job as Nicholls got out soon after.

Flat pitch pic.twitter.com/69jKomqRF6

— MAHIYANK ™ (@Mahiyank_78) December 4, 2021

Khud ko troll kr rha hai kya?

— Andy. (@WeBleedBlue007) December 4, 2021

Lol he himself got out on duck

— . (@chimtubhaiya) December 4, 2021

Kohli tolling himself

— RO45 (@Maanvi_264) December 4, 2021

Kohli bodied himself..

— Aditya Neela (@adityaneela1) December 4, 2021

Not more than you though ,the irony.

— Mahesh (@CloudyCrick) December 4, 2021 

The only issue most of the people on social media have with Kohli’s comment is that he described the 22-yard strip at Wankhede as “flat”. The surface being used for the second Test is anything but flat and Kohli used the term only to get under the skin of the opponent. 

What do you make of Kohli’s comments? Let us know in the comments section below.