Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli fell just short of a century after anchoring India's innings with a fluent 65 during the second One-Day International (ODI) against England at Sophia Gardens on Thursday.
Kohli's classy knock came to an end when he was dismissed by England's premier fast bowler, Jofra Archer, leaving India at 178 for 4 in the 32nd over.
Virat Kohli Falls For 65
After England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to field, India's top order experienced mixed fortunes.Skipper Shubman Gill departed for a brisk 31, caught by Ben Duckett off the bowling of Gus Atkinson.
Rohit Sharma, who survived an early drop, struggled to find his rhythm before being dismissed by part-timer Will Jacks for 26 off 47 deliveries.Ishan Kishan, replacing the ill KL Rahul in the side, fell shortly after for just 1, caught and bowled by Sam Curran.
Throughout the minor collapse, Kohli stood firm. He paced his innings beautifully, striking eight boundaries to reach his 78th ODI half-century.Alongside Shreyas Iyer, Kohli stabilized the team, putting on a vital partnership to steer India back into a commanding position.
The Crucial Breakthrough
Just as Kohli looked set to push for a milestone hundred, Brook brought Archer back into the attack. The tactical move paid off almost immediately.
Archer, bowling with high pace, induced a rash whip from Kohli towards the leg-side. Kohli mistimed the shot, sending a catch straight to Adil Rashid towards third man region. This is second-time that Archer has removed Kohli in the ongoing IND vs ENG ODI series, dismissing the batter at Edgbaston as well.
It was a massive moment for England, who desperately needed to break the partnership as India threatened to post a massive total.
Despite missing out on a century, Kohli's innings was historic. During his knock of 65, he surpassed legendary former batsman Rahul Dravid to become the highest run-scorer for India in international cricket on English soil. Kohli now holds the record with 2,646 runs across all formats in England.
The cricketing fraternity will be eagerly watching to see how the remainder of this crucial ODI unfolds and what impact Kohli's dismissal will have on India's pursuit of a series victory. Archer's ability to consistently challenge the best in the game continues to be a highlight of this closely contested series.
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