"Virat Kohli’s glittering CV now includes being a part of two of India’s three lowest-ever scores" - Michael Atherton takes a dig at ace batter
Former England opener Michael Atherton took a shot at ace batter Virat Kohli by pointing to India's two lowest Test scores have come during his illustrious career. Team India was bowled out for 46 in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
It was their third-lowest team score in Tests and under four years from their lowest-ever score of 36 recorded against Australia in December 2020. While Kohli captained the side in that outing in Australia, he played under Rohit Sharma in the New Zealand game.
While recollecting England scoring the same 46 under his captaincy in 1994, Atherton wrote in his column for the Times:
"India’s 46 all out in the first Test against New Zealand came only four years after their lowest-ever score, 36 all out against Australia in Adelaide. India’s batsmen plumbed the depths again before the previous embarrassment had slipped from memory. Virat Kohli’s glittering CV now includes being a part of two of India’s three lowest-ever scores."
The 46 was also the lowest-ever Test score on Indian soil and Kohli scored a nine-ball duck in the embarrassing batting display. Apart from Kohli, four other Indian batters were dismissed for no score as the Bengaluru crowd was stunned in silence.
"Rohit owned up, but it seems unlikely in years to come that he will be reminded of it in the way that Nasser Hussain was" - Michael Atherton
Michael Atherton praised Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for owning up to misreading the Bengaluru pitch and deciding to bat first.
After India was bowled out for 46 under overcast conditions and a damp pitch, Rohit said he erred by batting first during the press conference later that evening.
"Why, by the way, is there greater opprobrium towards a captain who wins the toss, inserts the opposition, disastrously, over one who bats first and it all goes wrong? Rohit owned up, but it seems unlikely in years to come that he will be reminded of it in the way that Nasser Hussain was about Brisbane in 2002, when, having inserted Australia, his bowlers were flogged around the Gabba as Australia reached 364 for two at the end of the first day," said Atherton.
He cheekily added:
"Welcome to my world, Rohit. There is not that much common ground between myself and India’s swashbuckling captain, Rohit Sharma, but we both now know what it is like to captain a side that has been bowled out for 46."
For context, former England captain Nasser Hussain faces criticism to date for inserting Australia to bat first in the first 2002-03 Ashes Test in Brisbane. The Aussies took full advantage of his blunder and amassed 364/2 at the end of Day 1 before going on to win the series 4-1.