"The run-out may have affected his state of mind" - Sanjay Manjrekar reviews Virat Kohli's familiar mode of dismissal in 4th BGT 2024-25 Test

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that his involvement in the run-out of Yashasvi Jaiswal might have affected Virat Kohli's state of mind on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne on Friday, December 27. Manjrekar further opined that Kohli has the defensive game to keep Australia's bowlers at bay if he applies his mind to the task.

Kohli (36) and Jaiswal (82) added 102 for the third wicket in India's first innings, replying to Australia's 474. However, a horrendous mix-up between the two set batters resulted in the run-out of the latter. Kohli perished a few balls later, caught behind as he again hung his bat at a delivery outside off stump from Scott Boland.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar opined that Jaiswal's run-out could have disturbed Kohli's concentration, which might have resulted in his dismissal. He commented:

"The run-out may have just affected his state of mind. The ball was comparatively innocuous because it started off wide and stayed a little outside off."

The 59-year-old added that Kohli has the mental application to keep leaving balls outside off stump, but needs to stick to the plan. Recalling the former Indian captain's tremendous application during the 2018 tour of England, Manjrekar said:

"It is something he has done before. 2018 was a remarkable series and that is the time when the world saw the greatness of Virat Kohli. He had a problem against Jimmy Anderson and Anderson struck to that same theory - bowling everything on the sixth stump. It was only in the third Test that he played the first cover drive against Anderson. He left almost 40 percent of Anderson's balls."

"That was the case here as well. He has that kind of discipline. Cover drive is his main shot, but he can put it in the dungeons if he has to survive. I thought that was a great solution to his problem," the former India batter went on to add.

Until his dismissal to Boland on Friday, Kohli looked in good touch. He faced 86 balls in his patient knock, hitting four fours.

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India stumble after Kohli-Jaiswal stand on Day 2 of 4th BGT 2024-25 Test

The 102-run stand between Kohli and Jaiswal lifted India to a reasonable position of 153-2. The visitors, however, lost their way as both set batters fell in quick succession. The decision to send in Akash Deep as nightwatchman also did not pay off as the batter was dismissed for a duck.

At stumps on Day 2, India were in big trouble at 164-5, with Rishabh Pant batting on six and Ravindra Jadeja on four.