Day 4 of the 4th Test between India and Australia was one of resilience for the former, with a promising partnership of 102 runs for the third wicket between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli. However, a critical mix-up between the two led to the unfortunate dismissal of Jaiswal, which had many talking about who was at fault.
Sanjay Manjrekar and Irfan Pathan were involved in a very spirited discussion during the post-match show on Star Sports. Manjrekar said Kohli should have responded to the call of a run from Jaiswal, who was at the danger end. “The ball was coming slowly; I don’t think Kohli would have been run out. It was Jaiswal’s call. If it was a bad call, he would have been out at the non-striker’s end.
Pathan explained, though, that one could have understood Kohli’s dilemma because the speed at which the ball was hit by Jaiswal to reach fielder Pat Cummins. He said it was his prerogative to decline a run if the non-striker thinks that it would be too dangerous. “Virat wasn’t confident taking that run. It was a fast ball and he has all the rights to turn it down if he feels it’s too risky,” Pathan said.
The exchange became more heated, with both analysts talking over each other sometimes. Manjrekar said in frustration, “If you don’t want to let me talk, it’s alright.” As the debate heated up, he said a new interpretation by Pathan over run-taking should find a place in coaching manuals.
Manjrekar went on to say that Kohli’s wicket after all might have been because he was guilty after the incident which got Jaiswal’s wicket. “Kohli’s dismissal was probably linked to the guilt he carried after Jaiswal’s run-out. He had been leaving outside-off deliveries until then, but lost focus post the incident,” he said.
As the discussion unfolded, it highlighted the intense scrutiny and differing perspectives that come with high-stakes cricket, especially in matches against formidable opponents like Australia.
