Picture Credit: X
India is hosting New Zealand in a three-match Test series with the second Test underway at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. However, the hosts trail the series 0-1, the Rohit Sharma-led side are in a trouble, heading towards their first-ever series defeat since 2012 against New Zealand.
With India bundling out New Zealand at the score of 255, the visitors put up 359-run target for the hosts to chase and level the series 1-1 in Pune. Just after New Zealand’s second innings, former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim opened up on Virat Kohli stepping up in such crucial situation.
He has to have his aggressive intent: Saba Karim on Virat Kohli
Speaking with JioCinema during the innings break, Saba Karim said, "I do. I think at such times, legendary players will themselves to do well. They need to absorb the pressure, and that's what Virat has done in the past. So he would challenge himself to do well on a track like this. More so now with India getting a great start, he would like to build on this and try to be there in this run-chase."
“This going to be a big task for Virat Kohli as he is not used to playing on tracks like this. At times, he will need to curb his aggression and work on his defence. But he has to have his aggressive intent as well. There needs to be a combination of all these factors but India will rely on him,” he added.
At the time of writing, India’s scoreboard read 143/4 after 27 overs with Virat Kohli (15 off 30) and Washington Sundar (10 off 17) in the middle. Team India skipper, Rohit Sharma departed early, scoring 8 off 16 runs, followed by Shubman Gill’s departure. After lunch, in-form batter Yashasvi Jaiswal (77 off 65) also departed, followed by the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant.
