WTC Final 2023: I was surprised Kohli played such a stroke – Wasim Jaffer

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer was surprised with the way Virat Kohli was dismissed in the second innings of the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval on Sunday. Kohli was dismissed by Scott Boland when the right-hander was chasing a wide off-stump delivery.

Boland was able to lure Kohli into the false shot and the outside edge was brilliantly taken by Steve Smith at second slip. In fact, Kohli was well settled at 49 but it was a poor shot by the veteran. It has been noticed that the same shot, chasing a sixth stump delivery, has led to Kohli’s downfall on numerous occasions in his career.

Analyzing Kohli’s shot, Jaffer told Sportskeeda: “I was a bit surprised. He was batting so well on Day 4 and was not playing this stroke. He was disciplined and was leaving a lot of balls even though Australia were constantly testing him [outside off stump]. I was surprised Kohli played such a stroke on the fifth morning.

The former domestic giant added it was a poor shot from Kohli. Jaffer admitted Kohli got a peach of a delivery in the first innings from Mitchell Starc but he played a shot, which could have been avoided in the second innings.

“It was a bad shot. There’s no doubt about it. In the first innings, he got a very good delivery, which was somewhat unplayable and he couldn’t do much about it. He looked in control in the second innings. I feel he himself will be very disappointed,” Jaffer added.

On the other hand, after India’s big loss, legendary Sunil Gavaskar also slammed Virat Kohli for a poor shot.

Gavaskar said on Star Sports, “It was a bad shot. It was an ordinary shot. You should ask Kohli what shot he played. That was shot outside the off-stump. We talk so much about the fact that when you are going to win a match, you need a long inning. You need a century-plus innings to win that. How do you get to a century-plus innings if you are going to play a shot which is so far outside the off stump?”

There is no doubt that Kohli will be disappointed with his shot as he chased a ball that he should have left. India will next tour West Indies for two Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is in July.