Bumrah in particular made Kohli work hard and even got his wicket a couple of times.
All the focus was on ace batter Virat Kohli, who has been struggling since the Sri Lanka white-ball series. In the first Test in Chennai, Kohli only scored 6 and 17 runs, raising questions about his present form.
This was Kohli's first Test at home this year, after missing the five-match series against England due to personal concerns. Kohli's struggles were highlighted during a net session at Green Park Stadium, where he battled against both pace and spin.
Indian Express reported that Kohli appeared confident at first, smashing a few strokes, but Bumrah quickly took control. Bumrah defeated Kohli four times, including inducing an edge and hitting Kohli's pads, prompting him to yell, "Saamne laga hai (You are plumb)."
Bumrah baited Kohli again after another delivery, saying, "Aakhiri wala toh short leg ka catch tha (The last one would have been caught at short leg)." Kohli replied with a smile, acknowledging his troubles.
Kohli's difficulties against spinners have recently gained prominence. Kohli was knocked for 17 in Chennai by off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, marking the 18th time he had been dismissed by spinners since 2021.
He also struggled against the Indian spin trio at the Kanpur nets, particularly the two left-arm spinners. Kohli repeatedly attempted to play inside-out against Jadeja but failed three times in a row and appeared upset.
The most memorable incident, however, was Akshar taking out the master batsman through the gate.
As India prepares for the second Test, everyone will be watching Kohli to see how he adjusts and performs. Fans are excited to see if the brilliant batter can restore his form and contribute significantly to the squad throughout the long Test season ahead.