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Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has expressed his disappointment with Virat Kohli's recent dismissals, highlighting their detrimental impact on India's chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Kaif's criticism follows Kohli's two successive poor dismissals in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, where he was first clean bowled to a full toss in the first innings and then ran himself out in the concluding stages of the first day's play. The series' significance lies in its direct influence on India's qualification for the WTC final, with the team facing a potential third consecutive miss.
Kohli's run-out in the second innings, in particular, sparked Kaif's pointed remarks. In a tweet, Kaif expressed his concern, stating, "Virat Kohli in this series has been clean bowled to a full toss and now this error of judgement to be run out. This needs to change if India needs to reach the WTC final." The incident occurred in the 19th over, where Kohli attempted a risky single off Rachin Ravindra, misjudging his ability to return to the crease in time. This error of judgement was capitalized upon by Matt Henry, who delivered a direct hit, resulting in Kohli's dismissal.
The current state of the series poses a formidable challenge for India's World Test Championship aspirations. Having already lost the three-Test series against New Zealand, India's pathway to the final is now incredibly narrow. They require a remarkable turnaround, winning four out of their remaining six Tests. Should India face a whitewash in the ongoing series, winning four out of five Tests in their upcoming tour of Australia will become a mandatory requirement. The pressure on India is immense, and the team's future in the WTC hangs in the balance.
While India currently holds the top position in the WTC points table, their lead is tenuous. Australia and South Africa, both vying for the final spot, have upcoming home Test series that could significantly impact the WTC standings. Victories in these series would likely see India fall out of contention for the final. The upcoming matches hold immense importance for India, and their performance will determine their fate in the World Test Championship. The pressure is mounting on the team, and Kohli's form and decision-making will be key in determining India's path to the final.
Source: 'This Needs To Change': Mohammed Kaif Hits Out At Virat Kohli Over Successive Poor Dismissals