Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni remain two of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history. Dhoni won all three major white-ball trophies, while Kohli became India’s most successful Test captain. Both scored more than 10,000 ODI runs, but Kohli stood out in red-ball cricket with 14 overseas centuries from his 30 Test hundreds. Interestingly, that was not the case in his early Test career, when Dhoni often looked more comfortable on foreign pitches.
Former New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner recently recalled the 2014 India vs New Zealand Test in Auckland. He explained how Virat Kohli struggled against short-pitched bowling, while MS Dhoni appeared more assured.
Wagner on Kohli’s Struggles in Auckland Test
“This Test match, I remember the wicket being quite flat, but there was a bit of pace and bounce. Eden Park is quite small on the straight, but the square boundaries there are pockets that are helpful. I remember bowling a couple of bouncers and how they played it, and particularly [Virat] Kohli looked a bit unsettled. He didn’t know if he should take it on or not and how to play,” Wagner, 39, said on the Red Inker Cricket Podcast.
“The idea was trying to go cross and outside eyeline. He (Kohli) tried to pull it in front of square because there’s protection out. Him trying to pull it in front of square, he just got a toe end on it and it carried through to BJ Watling. He got a bottom edge on it and it created a bit of a mode,” he added.
Dhoni Looked Unfazed Against the Short Ball
Wagner admitted that while Kohli looked unsettled, Dhoni showed more composure.
“‘MS Dhoni didn’t look like it was bothering him.'”
The Auckland Test saw New Zealand set India a stiff 407-run target. Kohli’s 67 and Dhawan’s century gave India hope, and at 268/5, the visitors even dreamed of victory. Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja added 54 runs, but Wagner’s 4/62 sealed India’s collapse at 366, giving New Zealand a 40-run win.
“Then Dhoni and Jadeja looked like they were going to chase it down and play a phenomenal innings. Dhoni didn’t look like it was bothering him too much. It was all about taking the positive and aggressive option for us and not being fearful at all. I was like I am going to bowl a slower ball bouncer to Dhoni. I did it and he chopped it on, and I was amazed by it. The confidence that I got from that and backing your gut feeling made me feel like getting some confidence and some self-belief,” Wagner added.
Stay tuned for all the Cricket News, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, and Cricket updates!