Former head coach Ravi Shastri has defended India batter Virat Kohli after his run of low scores in Test cricket continued in the first Test against Australia which is being played at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

Coming to bat on day two after India had lost R Ashwin (23) and Cheteshwar Pujara (7) in quick succession to Todd Murphy, Virat Kohli was expected to give huge support to Rohit Sharma who was batting like a dream.

Kohli himself looked good as he hit two boundaries during his stay at the crease. However, on return to the crease after lunch, Todd Murphy got the better of Kohli on perhaps the worst delivery he had bowled.

IND v AUS 2023: WATCH- Virat Kohli’s sheepish smile after dismissal by Todd Murphy down leg side

A short ball, which spun and went down the leg-side, Kohli tried to flick it to get a single, but only managed to get a thin edge. Keeper Alex Carey moved swiftly down the leg side and in his second attempt, managed to gobble up the ball.

Kohli could do nothing while walking back, and questions were raised over how he was dismissed. Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri defended Kohli and said that he was just unlucky to get out to that ball.

"That's unlucky. That's strangled down the leg side. I mean once in 50 innings he will get out in that fashion. Let's not talk about technique or an off-spinner getting him out. Forget all that. He is out, bad luck, but it was the right thing from Australia's point of view because they needed a wicket. Straight up after that, you get the momentum going," Ravi Shastri told Star Sports.

Kohli had not scored any half-century in the last Test series against Bangladesh as well and even when Australia had toured India in 2017, Kohli had not scored a half-century in the three Test matches he played.