Graeme Swann steps in to defend Virat Kohli amidst criticism

Former England Spinner Graeme Swann feels that the Indian commentators are “quite harsh” on their star batsman.

IND vs ENG: After yet another Test match without a big score, Indian fans and commentators are condemning Kohli for his performances. However, Graeme Swann feels they are going overboard with criticism.

Virat Kohli got out to a peach of a delivery in the 2nd Innings in the 5th test match between India and England. But, everytime Kohli is dismissed, commentators have a thing or 2 to say about the low performances of the former Indian captain.

Kohli has struggled to convert his half-centuries/ starts into 3 figures, a run extending back to 2019, when he scored his last century.

This is where Graeme Swann stepped into support the star player.

“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,” Swann said 

“Regardless, if you are looking to get on the front foot, 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,” he added.

The spinner then praised the mindset and the strategy of Kohli, on the way he tried to tackle the English pacers.

“Yes, he is looking to get forward, but he knows that the England bowlers, Broad and 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.

In the first innings of the test match, Virat Kohli’s timber was disturbed by the very impressive Matty Potts. England finished day 4 on 259/3, 119 runs away from a miraculous chase of 378!

Catch the day 4 summary here: https://www.sportstrumpet.com/england-on-the-cusp-of-pulling-off-a-miraculous-chase/

Both Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root looked in good touch and their partnership of 150 runs might just have saved England from a series defeat to India. Currently, India lead England 2-1.