Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have had contrasting journeys in their Test careers as batters and leaders of the team during the prime days in their respective careers. Kohli, however, went onto become a greater success in red-ball cricket, finishing as India’s fourth-highest run-getters and the most successful captain of the country Tests, surpassing Dhoni.
Overseeing a transition and bearing the wicket-keeping load for several years, Dhoni abruptly called it quits from Test cricket after the Boxing Day Test in 2014 in Australia, passing the baton over to Kohli to lead a new-look Indian side. However, the Ranchi-born was not short on technique when battling alongside the lower-order even when it is a record that fails to account for an overseas century.
While the 2014-15 tour to Australia was a fillip to Kohli’s evolving career as a Test batter, he was tentative in his early days, particularly on overseas trips where Dhoni continued to remain as a solid presence down the order. In fact, former New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner recently explained how Kohli was more susceptible to short-pitched deliveries while Dhoni’s solidity surprised him during India’s 2014 tour to the island nation.
When Wagner troubled Kohli in Eden Park
“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.
Wagner, who finished his career with 260 wickets in 64 Tests, was talking with reference to the first Test of India’s 2014 tour, at Eden Park, where the visitors fell agonisingly short in a 407-run chase. After being flattened by Brendon McCullum’s double century in the first-innings, India conceded a whopping 301-run lead after being bundled out for 202 in reply. While Kohli fell on four, Wagner dismissed Dhoni on 10.
Untroubled MS
However, led by a terrific comeback by the pacers, India shot out the Kiwis for 105 in the second innings and set a 407-run target. Led by Shikhar Dhawan’s blistering century, India went for the huge chase and, though Kohli chipped in with a half-century, Wagner reckoned that the India star looked dodgy against the extra bounce. However, the left-arm pacer was surprised by Dhoni’s unflustered handling of the short-pitched deliveries.
“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.”
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It was a slower variation of the bumper that would eventually do the trick
“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.
Wagner eventually managed to castle Dhoni on 39 as the ninth wicket, with India only 45 runs away from victory. The Indians went onto lose the game after being bowled out for 366.
