"You are bringing your own and the fans' expectations down" - Former India all-rounder on Virat Kohli's dismissal on Day 5 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has criticized Virat Kohli for repeatedly getting dismissed while committing the same mistake. He noted that the ace Indian batter is lowering his own and his fans' expectations.
Kohli scored five runs off 29 deliveries as India were bowled out for 155 in their second innings on Day 5 (Monday, December 30) of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fourth Test in Melbourne. The visitors lost the game by 184 runs to go 1-2 down in the five-match series.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Pathan attributed Kohli's dismissal to his lack of discipline.
"Virat Kohli talks about discipline himself but he didn't show discipline there. Talking about it on one side and taking it into the ground on the other. This is not about today but for many years. It's about leaving the temptation. You are repeatedly getting out by making the same mistake," he said.
"You are bringing your own and the fans' expectations down. Even if you ask a domestic Indian cricketer what should you bowl against Virat, he will also say that he will come and bowl outside the off-stump, and try to get him out," Pathan added.
Virat Kohli nicked a Mitchell Starc delivery to Usman Khawaja at first slip. All his dismissals in the ongoing series have been to catches behind the wickets.
"Mitchell Starc's ball was overpitched but it was way outside the off-stump" - Irfan Pathan on Virat Kohli falling prey to temptation
![Virat Kohli was dismissed in the last over before Lunch. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/da1eb-17355512036756-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Irfan Pathan pointed out Virat Kohli could have easily left the ball to which he was dismissed.
"What line was it? It was a sixth or seventh stump line. Mitchell Starc's ball was overpitched but it was way outside the off-stump. The length was a temptation to play the drive, but he could have definitely left it based on line," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the modern batting great lost his wicket at a crucial juncture and to a normal plan.
"You also need to keep in mind when you are playing that shot. It was just before Lunch and two wickets had fallen. You just had to play carefully there. They bowled one full ball and invited you to lose your wicket and you accepted that. You were definitely trapped. It's a normal trap. It's not that Australia are making outstanding plans," Pathan observed.
Virat Kohli's dismissal reduced India to 33/3, with Rohit Sharma (9) and KL Rahul (0) having lost their wickets before him. Although Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) and Rishabh Pant (30) stitched together an 88-run fourth-wicket partnership, the visitors lost their last seven wickets for just 34 runs.