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[Watch] Sunil Gavaskar Lambasts Virat Kohli For His Short Selection in WTC Final 

image-lisepc0pVirat Kohli got out for 49 on day 5 [Source: AP]

India suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat in the ICC tournament as Australia beat them by 209 runs in the World Test Championship final. Once again, India finished as the runner-up, marking their second consecutive WTC final loss after their defeat against New Zealand in the inaugural edition. 

India succumbed to a batting collapse, getting bowled out for 234 while chasing a daunting 444-run target. The batting collapse in the morning session on the final day was a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering the solid finish for day 4, where both unbeaten batters, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, looked settled.

The collapse began early on Day 5 when Virat Kohli chased a wide delivery from Scott Boland outside the off-stump. Kohli failed to find the middle of the bat, resulting in a thick edge that carried to slip, where Steve Smith grabbed a stunner. 

The expression on Virat Kohli's face after his dismissal painted a clear picture of his disappointment, and in a no-holds-barred critique, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar didn't shy away from heavily criticising the Delhi batter for the manner of his dismissal. 


Here’s what Sunil Gavaskar said

"It was a bad shot. It was an ordinary shot. You're asking me about it, I think you should ask Kohli. What was that shot? That was a shot outside the off-stump. We talked so much about the fact that to win a match, you need a long innings. You need a century-plus innings. How are you going to play a century-plus innings if you're going to play a shot so far outside the off-stump."

Gavaskar further raised concerns about Kohli, accusing him of placing personal achievement ahead of the team's interests, suggesting that he might have been mindful of needing just one run to complete his half-century. Notably, Kohli got out on 49 runs, narrowly missing his half-century by just one run.

"It was a pretty ordinary shot. Outside the off stump. He was leaving till then. Maybe he was conscious that he needed one run to reach his half century. It happens when you are nearing a milestone."