Mehidy Hasan Miraz pitched it on the middle and leg stump while trying to entice Virat Kohli to attempt an expansive stroke.
India had already lost two wickets in their quest for victory in Kanpur and Kohli wasn’t settled yet. The target was a mere 95 on the final day with two sessions remaining.
The off spinner’s length had been troubling the Indian batters and Kohli was caught in two minds inside the crease as the ball turned from outside off and stayed a bit low. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had fallen prey to similar deliveries but Kohli managed to bring the bat down in time and defend.
But then as Miraz altered the line, Kohli decided to take the plunge. He swept it, the much straighter delivery allowing him to pick the gap through square leg easily. It’s not that he doesn’t have the shot, but perhaps it’s not as instinctive as his steer or drive which he employs more often.
The sheepish smile on his face was not to be missed as Kohli settled for a mid-pitch chat with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The buzz in the dressing room was palpable at the end of the match. Grinning from ear to ear, Ravichandran Ashwin imitated his sweep as Kohli made his way back to the dressing room after the seven-wicket victory.
Usually it’s Kohli who emulates a teammate’s action on the field but this time the shoe was on the other foot.
“He doesn’t play it at all,” Murali Kartik provided some insight during commentary.
There was another sweep from Kohli towards the end of the Test when Taijul Islam’s tossed up delivery was drifting down the leg side. It was cut off by a fielder in the deep behind square, else would have fetched another boundary to bring up the winning runs.
The sweep has been a key scoring option to counter spin, especially in subcontinent conditions, but Kohli has used it sparingly. Even on raging turners, the sweep would always be his last option.
But Test matches call for adjustments in strategy to counter the changing demands. Of late, Kohli has fallen prey to the spinners more often, getting dismissed 14 times since 2022.
India will next face New Zealand at home but the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia carries more significance and Kohli will be keen to negate the Nathan Lyon threat.
The off spinner has a terrific record at home and has dismissed Kohli seven times in 25 innings. Looking to survive against a spinner could be self destructive on a fourth or fifth day wicket and the best option would be to attack and throw him off gear.
It was a concerted effort from Kohli to master the sweep in a Test and he played it all along the ground. It wasn't pre-meditated though since that could have allowed the bowler to shift the length. He was in control, never too back or too forward, timing it to perfection and picking the ball from under his head.
Kohli’s sweep off Miraz could have gone down as the 'shot of the day' at Green Park. But if he sweeps to glory in Australia, Ashwin will have more such moments to celebrate with the master batter.
