India’s star batter Virat Kohli endured a rare failure against Pakistan in an Asia Cup 2023 match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (September 2).

Kohli was cleaned up by left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi during the seventh over of India’s innings for 4 off 7 balls. The right-hander was looking to punch a delivery through the off-side but he ended up getting an inside edge that deflected and hit the stumps.

The likes of Waqar Younis, Matthew Hayden and Gautam Gambhir were on commentary when Kohli lost his wicket.  

While Waqar and Hayden felt Virat was a tad unlucky to get an inside edge back onto his stumps, Gambhir was rather critical in his assessment.

The former India opener criticized Kohli for his indecisiveness against Shaheen Afridi.

"That was a nothing shot, neither forward, neither back. I think was a bit casual. That's what you get when you play someone like Shaheen Afridi. You don't know whether to go forward or back," Gambhir said in commentary on Star Sports.

On the other hand, Pakistan pace legend Waqar stated: "Kohli was a touch unlucky. Inside edge, the ball didn't come on to bat and maybe even kept a bit low. But credit to Shaheen Shah Afridi for altering his length."

Hayden echoed Waqar’s views and said: "Yeah, inside edge onto the stumps, could have got anywhere."

Besides Kohli, Shaheen dismissed India skipper Rohit Sharma (11) with the new ball. He also took the wickets of India's top-scorer Hardik Pandya (87) and Ravindra Jadeja (14) in the death overs to return with the figures of 4 for 35 in his 10 overs. 

Haris Rauf (3/58) and Naseem Shah (3/36) also picked up three wickets each for Pakistan to bundle out India for 266 in 48.5 overs.

However, the effort of Pakistani fast bowlers went in vain as the match was called off due to rain without a ball being bowled in the second innings.