‘Tinker Man’ Kohli Produces Captaincy Masterclass In WTC Final & Haters Go Into Hiding

On Jun 23, 2021

New Zealand were in the ascendancy when the play began on the fifth day of the World Test Championship final in Southampton. Having been bowled out for 217 in their first innings, Virat Kohli and Co. were on the backfoot and needed a spirited performance to pull things back.

Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma did the magic with the ball, picking up three crucial wickets in the first session but it was Virat Kohli’s captaincy masterclass that paved the way for India’s comeback.

His bowling and fielding changes were spot on and in Nasser Hussain’s words he made “right changes at the right time” and Team India reaped its benefits.

VVS Laxman, one of the most respected batsmen to have played the game, was impressed in particular with the way he made small adjustments in the field and placed Shubman Gill at silly mid-off, knowing that Ross Taylor likes to drive in the air.

Kohli’s move paid dividends almost immediately when Gill took a blinder to send Taylor packing as New Zealand lost their first wicket of the day.

“A lot of credit for Ross Taylor’s wicket should be given to Virat Kohli. Ross Taylor has the tendency to play in the air when he plays the drives and Shubman Gill was stationed there, just parallel to the crease, silly mid-off position and that’s the reason why he caught that blinder. Fantastic captaincy, a fantastic display of fast bowling,” Laxman said during the Lunch show on Star Sports.

A brilliant catch from Shubman Gill#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | #Shubmangill #India #WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/2H049sNeeN

— IndSamachar News (@Indsamachar) June 22, 2021

“It took a while to take the wicket of Ross Taylor but right from the word go the intensity of the Indian fast bowlers, what we were expecting from Indian fast bowlers, that was to be seen. Fantastic display of fast bowling, control aggression and a lot of discipline and also hats off to Virat Kohli,” Laxman added.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain lauded how Kohli didn’t take the foot off the paddle in the morning session and kept pushing for wickets. Ishant Sharma, who is known for bowling well to the left-handers, was given the ball against Henry Nicholls and he got him caught in the slip cordon.

As many as 10 wickets fell in the day, with Mohammad Shami taking four of them

Your @bookingcom Best Wickets from Day 5 of the ICC World Test Championship Final #WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/rJ4F5Vdq4d

— ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2021

“I thought Virat Kohli had a (good) day as well. Every bowling change he made (was a good one). To the left-hander Nicholls, we know Ishant bowls well, bowl straight on. He kept Shami on even though he bowled six or seven overs in that session. So, pretty much spot on from India throughout the session. Catching, captaincy, and bowling,” Hussain said.

“Sometimes, Virat Kohli does certain things, I call him the tinker man. But today morning, he did things with a lot of purpose. The changes he made were absolutely spot-on. Ishant to the left-handers. And like VVS Laxman said, there was no left-hander for Ashwin. 10 minutes to go to Lunch. BJ Watling in the middle, and he kept Shami on. And immediately Shami gets the wicket. He made right changes at the right time,” he added.

Having picked three wickets in the morning session, India brought themselves back in the game nicely and alongwith the bowlers Kohli also received a huge credit for that, with fans and experts all taking to social media to praise his clever captaincy while under pressure.

Virat Kohli in this WTC Final Match so far:-

•44(132).
•2 catches.
•20+ Runs saved With his fielding.

Moreover Outstanding Captaincy From King @imVkohli • #WTC21Final • #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/YYty8hwjWy

— Virat Kohli Trends™ (@TrendVirat) June 22, 2021

We aren’t talking enough about Kohli’s captaincy in this game! Classic!#INDvsNZ #WTC2021

— Vinav Nair. (@Vinav_Nair) June 22, 2021

Field placements and bowling changes have been the key in this session. Brilliant captaincy by kohli.🇮🇳

— Anu (@exhaustednd) June 22, 2021

This is an appreciation tweet for Virat Kohli’s captaincy. He didn’t let anyone’s shoulders drop at all. He kept motivating the players. His field placement was perfect and so were his bowling changes.

— Gurdeep 🇮🇳 (@Gurdeep_0701) June 22, 2021

let’s just take a moment and appreciate virat kohli’s captaincy pic.twitter.com/EwF8BCxHuM

— juhi (@viratholicx) June 22, 2021

Bowling changes & Excellent captaincy to bring in Ishant and stay with Shami !
Excellent stuff from One of the most successful Test Leader#Kohli #Captaincy #Captain #WTCFinal2021 #WTC21final #WorldTestChampionship #Shami #Ishant #WTC21final pic.twitter.com/pH2DHjU4OY

— Harshit Singh (@im_harshit21) June 22, 2021

Top session by India! 🇮🇳🏻

3 wickets and minimal runs.
Kohli delivered with his captaincy and Ishant and Shami bowled beautifully.
Bumrah bowled fair, not bad at all, understand it well.

This match is there to be won guys. 🏻#WTCFinal2021

— ▪ (@_ShuBhamCFC) June 22, 2021

Virat Kohli you beauty, his Captaincy just a Masterclass. Virat Kohli put the fielder at long leg now Mohammed Shami bouncer and Kyle Jemieson out. Top class Captaincy from Kohli. #INDvNZ

— CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) June 22, 2021

What a captaincy from Captain Virat Kohli. Brought Ishant & Shami at right time into the attack and fall of wickets started.#WTC21final #ICCWorldTestChampionship pic.twitter.com/3iyWlGyZ2Q

— UrMiL07™ (@urmilpatel30) June 22, 2021