Former England spinner Graeme Swann extended support to struggling Virat Kohli after the dashing right-hander yet again failed to get going with the bat during Team India’s second innings in the ongoing rescheduled fifth Test against England at Edgbaston.
Kohli who had made only 11 runs in the first innings, was undone by Ben Stokes in the second innings, getting a ball to bounce more than Kohli anticipated and had him caught behind for 20 on day three of the ongoing rescheduled Test.
He had good starts on both occasions but failed to convert a start into a big score. However, India is still leading England by 257 runs and 7 wickets at their hands.
Graeme Swann said on Sony Sports: “You can say what you want, I don’t care, who is batting in any period of Test history if you can survive that delivery you are very, very lucky. That is unplayable. It’s a lucky catch in the end.”
He added, “Regardless, if you are looking to get on the front foot, back foot that ball is a ripsnorter. For an English point of view, I often find that whenever Indian commentators talk about Virat, I always think ‘wow they are quite harsh on him’. The standards are so high for Virat, I thought he was very at ease today.”
Kohli lost his wicket while trying to play Stokes' ball on the front foot, and he was dismissed many times in that fashion, for which he has to often face criticism. Reacting to the manner of Kohli’s dismissal, Swann said that it was "clever batting" from Kohli, but Stokes' delivery was "unplayable".
He signed off by saying, “Yes, he is looking to get forward, but he knows that the England bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, are looking to pitch it up. Jimmy won’t waste his time bowling many short ones to Virat. I think it was clever batting.”
