The former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, is known for his immense batting and aggressive behavior that was once again evident in a verbal fight against English batter Johnny Bairstow. Subsequently, Virat Kohli got criticized by former cricketers and fans. Thereafter, Johnny Bairstow geared up and smashed Indian bowlers. Before getting indulged in a brawl with Kohli, Johnny Bairstow was batting on 13 runs by playing 61 deliveries but after getting triggered by Virat Kohli’s sledging, his Strike rate took a spike and he scored 93 runs in successive 79 balls.
During India’s second innings, Virat Kohli was looking good on the pitch as he is struggling to get his early form back. Virat Kohli showed some cover drives for which he is known. Fans started hoping that he might get back into his early form. However, he got caught by giving an outside edge on Ben Stokes’ unplayable delivery. Virat Kohli added just 20 runs off 40 balls and got dismissed. Yet again, Virat Kohli got criticized by fans and many former cricketers, but the Former England Player Graeme Swann came to support Virat Kohli and defended him by saying it was unplayable as not only Kohli but many batters could’ve gotten out on that delivery.
Graeme Swann stated “You can say what you want, I don’t care, who is batting in any period of Test history if you can survive that delivery, you are very, very lucky. That is unplayable. It’s a lucky catch in the end. Regardless, if you are looking to get on the front foot or back foot, that ball is a ripsnorter. From an English point of view, I often find that whenever Indian commentators talk about Virat, I always think, ‘wow, they are quite harsh on him. The standards are so high for Virat, I thought he was very at ease today,” said Swann while speaking to Sony Sports.
“Yes, he is looking to get forward, but he knows that the England bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, are looking to pitch it up. Jimmy won’t waste his time bowling many short ones to Virat. I think it was clever batting,” he added.
