Skipper Virat Kohli blames host batsmen for letting team down as Australia inflict humiliating 333-run defeat on India in first Test
India captain Virat Kohli walks back after being clean bowled for 13 by on Day Three of first Test against Australia at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday. Pic/AFP
Pune: India's skipper Virat Kohli blamed the batsmen, and their 105-run all out in the first innings for the humiliating 333-run loss to Australia in the first Test at the MCA stadium here.
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Kohli later described is as the "worst Indian batting performance in the past two seasons."
"I think the way we batted in the first innings, we put ourselves under a lot of pressure to be honest. Conceding a 160-run lead (155-run lead) on that kind of wicket is criminal actually," Kohli told media after the match. "Our batting wasn't up to standard and that's certainly how we shouldn't bat from here onwards. This is all I can say, I think the batting let us down," he added.
Australian players celebrate their 333-run victory over India in the first Test at Pune on Saturday. Pic/PTI
Kohli described this defeat as a reality check, but said the team will come back stronger, as it has in the past. "The last time we had a performance like this (Galle, 2015), we had the most outstanding run after that. We needed something like this to get a reality check and understand what are the things we need to work on and and to not take anything for granted at any stage in international cricket."
This was India's lowest aggregate (total of 212 in two innings) at home, and ended their 19-game winning streak in Tests. The lack of application by the batsmen hurt the team, the skipper said. "If you don't apply yourself, any bowling attack can look dangerous. Even a part-timer can get four wickets if you don't apply yourself. And I certainly would like to think that was the case with our batting line-up in this game. It rarely happens that four to five batsmen make errors in judgment in both the innings, especially with the way we batted in the last few months," added Kohli, who scored zero and 13 in both innings.
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