Cricket
Virat Kohli bowled two overs and gave away just 12 runs against Australia in the warm-up game of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.
Updated : Oct 20, 2021, 05:30 PM IST
Team India's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma had mentioned that the toss that he, Virat Kohli or Suryakumar Yadav might roll their arms over as India's sixth bowling option since Hardik Pandya is not bowling fit. He looked like joking but it actually came true as the regular skipper came on to bowl two overs after the powerplay.
Kohli with his medium pace conceded just four runs in his first over against Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell when Australia were rebuilding having lost three early wickets for just 11 runs. However, his second over cost eight runs, including one boundary but many reckoned that he could be India's potential sixth bowling option for at least one or two overs.
Seeing Kohli roll his arm over, may fans suggested that India have found their all-rounder they were looking for but many were concerned seeing Kohli having to bowl as it meant that Hardik's bowling is out of the equation and it could mean more burden on Kohli, who is India's premier batter.
Australia were 11/3 after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in consecutive deliveries in his first over. Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, after which rebuilt and Marcus Stoinis at the end with 41* off just 25 balls helped their side get to 152/5 in their 20 overs.
Here are some of the reactions:
Virat Kohli bowling... Kya kya din dikhayega tu Hardik#INDvsAUS#TeamIndia #T20WorldCup https://t.co/MLGOk15YKY
— Royal Hindustani (@Rudra2812) October 20, 2021
Kohli be like :Aj bowling tera bhai karega
— Ayan (@arshadayan001) October 20, 2021
Virat Kohli is the 2nd best Pacer of India in this WT20.
— ' (@19_cric) October 20, 2021
Hope this helps.
Virat Kohli bowling in T20 World Cup 2021 warm-up match against Aus pic.twitter.com/qaCqvWr1RG
— sudatt shakya (@SudattShakya) October 20, 2021
Everybody's an all-rounder till India's highest ranked T20I all-rounder arrives. pic.twitter.com/8cYQULnh5h
— Manya (@CSKian716) October 20, 2021
Pakistan is not ready pic.twitter.com/eoDMoVTmyo
— Kanav Bali (@Concussion__Sub) October 20, 2021
Kohli bowling the first over after powerplay, MS Dhoni clearly pulling the strings, cus that's exactly what he did in the 2015 WC semi final against Australia lmao
— Dweplea (@dweplea) October 20, 2021