It happens quite seldom that Virat Kohli crosses fifty in a run-chase and his team ends up on the losing side. The third ODI against Australia in Chennai on Wednesday (March 22) was that one rare occasion when Kohli’s half-century couldn’t take India over the finishing line.
Chasing 270 to win, India’s innings folded for 248 in the series decider while Kohli scored 54 off 72 balls before being dismissed by left-arm spinner Ashton Agar. As a result, the visitors clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1.
Assessing India’s series-conceding 21-run defeat at Chepauk, veteran spinner R Ashwin heaped praise on Steve Smith, saying that the stand-in Australian captain played a huge role in dismissing a well-set Kohli to turn the match in tourists’ favour.
"Another talking point has to Virat Kohli's wonderful 50. Let me highlight Steve Smith's captaincy here. When Adam Zampa and Ashton were bowling, the pitch was holding a bit. Not all the balls turned, some were holding and going straight as well. Both Virat and Hardik tried to hit over extra cover and the ball fell just short of the long-off fielder. At that time, I noticed Steve Smith was constantly telling Ashtan Agar from the first slip, 'keep bowling it outside'. He was repeating this.
“Because when they see the line, they will try to go over extra cover and if the ball holds its line and goes straight, it will go straight to long-off. He also made David Warner come in a bit from long-off and set-up the entire dismissal," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
In the first delivery of Agar's next over, Kohli ended up giving an easy catch to Warner and long-off.
Ashwin, however, feels Virat Kohli is looking in great touch and expects him to do well in the ODI World Cup at home later this year.
"Usually, when Virat Kohli scores a fifty, he will convert it into an unbeatable hundred and prove why he is the king. But that did not happen. But fingers crossed, he is looking very good by the day. He is definitely going to turn it on during the World Cup, I have all the beliefs. Let's back him," he remarked.
