Wild stat proves Indian captain Virat Kohli was right to shift the blame

Indian skipper Virat Kohli ruffled a few feathers by refusing to give credit to Australia’s bowlers after the First Test.

Virat Kohli talks to Tim Paine after the First Test. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

His side had just been bowled out for 36 but Virat Kohli was typically defiant when breaking down the reasons for one of the most disastrous days of cricket in his country’s history.

Prompted in his press conference to acknowledge the superb performance by Australian quicks Pat Cummins (4/21) and Josh Hazlewood (5/8) on day three in Adelaide, Kohli insisted the incredible collapse was more about his team’s effort with the bat.

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“The way we batted allowed them to look more potent than they were in the morning, to be honest,” he said. “They bowled similarly in the first innings and we batted way, way better.”

“At an individual level, you have to be clear when you step on the field as to how you want to play, whether you want to take the game forward or you want to play absolutely solid,” he added.

“Historically, I can tell you whenever I have batted well in these situations my plan has been to go and get quick 30-40 runs and take the game forward. This is very significant.

Psychology of sport fascinating

Even when prompted Kohli won’t admit that Australia’s bowling was “f**king amazing” today, shifting the blame instead onto his batsmen

— Adam Spencer (@adambspencer) December 19, 2020

“As much as you plan on the team level, individuals need to have the right mindset in these critical moments and take the game forward. That is how you move towards winning. If your mindset is not right, like ours wasn’t today, when we lacked in intent, the opposition can sense it and put you under extreme pressure.

“That is exactly what happened. The individuals will have to see how they can have the mindset to take the game forward given the team’s situation.”

Australian captain Tim Paine was a little more generous to his match-winning duo.

Pat Cummins set the tone and grabbed the key wicket of Virat Kohli. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

“To have Pat start the day like he did and Josh Hazlewood, from his very first ball, was just on,” Paine said.

“When you are as tall and quick as our boys and they get it right, it can be an absolute nightmare. Full credit to our bowling attack again. (I’m) absolutely rapt with how we bowled in this Test.”

But a wild statistic that emerged after the innings suggests Kohli was right.

Leading cricket intelligence provider CricViz said Australia took six more wickets than it normally would have expected to from the 21.2 overs it sent down.

According to our Expected Wickets model, the deliveries Australia bowled in this innings would, on average, have yielded a score of 60-3. Through a mixture of bad luck, and poor batting, India didn't get close to that. #AUSvIND

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 19, 2020

The statistic also backs Kohli’s assertion India was playing too defensively, given they scored 24 runs less than what was on offer.

The rest of the cricket world was divided on where to place the credit – or the blame.

Aussie cricket great Shane Warne couldn’t believe how consistently Cummins and Hazlewood had found the edge of the Indian bats.

“What a bowling display that was from Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood here in Adelaide. Just outstanding,” he tweeted. “Have to feel for the Indian batsman as never saw that coming – it was one of those days where the batsman nicked everything and didn’t play and miss at all! Unbelievable.”

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar said any team would have been helpless against Cummins and Hazlewood.

“If any other team had been facing that kind of bowling, they would have also got out, maybe not all-out for 36, maybe 80-90,” Gavaskar told Channel 7 on Saturday.

Pakistan great Shaid Afridi also appeared more inclined to give it to the bowlers.

Brilliant display by Cummins and Hazelwood today, really enjoyed top-quality Test match fast bowling after long time. Indian batting is still capable of fighting back but it will be now tougher without Kohli.

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) December 19, 2020

In the end all that matters is Australia has a 1-0 lead - and Kohli won’t be around as India attempts to fight back in the series.