“Virat Kohli should have batted at No. 4”- Anil Kumble questions India’s tactics in 1st IND vs NZ 2024 Test

Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble questioned India’s tactics on the second day of the opening Test match against New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Benglauru on Thursday. After Shubman Gill was ruled out with a stiff neck, Kohli was promoted to number three.

But the talismanic batter was dismissed for a nine-ball duck after he received an almost unplayable delivery from William O’Rourke. Kumble reckons Kohli should have batted at his usual number four position and feels India missed the services of Cheteshwar Pujara, who was known to show his resilience.

“Virat Kohli should have batted at No. 4, he is your number one batter at that position. For the number three position, [you need] someone like Cheteshwar Pujara, who did so well for so many years playing there. 100 Test matches because he would have been there today, then I don’t think he would have gone looking to hit the ball,” said Kumble on JioCinema.

“He (Pujara) would allow the ball to come on and that’s where you miss someone like that. Kind of an approach today. And India is certainly in a spot of bother here.”

Meanwhile, Kohli hasn’t been at his absolute best in Test cricket in 2024, averaging 26.16 so far.

India was skittled out for a paltry score of 46 runs, which is their lowest score in home conditions and their third lowest ever in Test cricket. Five Indian batters were dismissed without troubling the scorers and India just could not get going on a difficult pitch.

New Zealand ended the second day’s play at 180-3 with a lead of 134 runs and the visitors were able to put themselves in front.