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'Not Protecting Virat Kohli…' Karthik Berates Gambhir, Says KL Should Have Batted At 3 Vs NZ

Virat Kohli failed to score a run against NZ [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]Virat Kohli failed to score a run against NZ [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]

Team India crumbled out for just 46, their lowest-ever team total at home, against New Zealand at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Day 2 of their series-opening Test match. As many as five Indian batters, including Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, were dismissed without opening their accounts.

Notably, Kohli batted at number three against New Zealand, in contrast to his usual number four position in Tests. Following India’s batting debacle in Bengaluru, several fans and cricket experts have criticized Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir for tampering with Kohli’s batting order. Dinesh Karthik, joining the bandwagon, has now rebuked Gambhir after Kohli’s latest failure with the bat.

Dinesh Karthik slams Gautam Gambhir over Kohli

While speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik claimed that legendary Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is best suited to bat at number four in Tests. He added that KL Rahul should have batted at number three instead, and admitted to “not following” Gautam Gambhir’s idea of tampering with the Indian batting order. He said:

“I am not protecting Virat Kohli. If I make a change, it is because I believe that player will do well there, not because I want to protect Virat Kohli. He walks in at no. 3 in every ODI, he opens in T20, now you can say the ball is different, it's not moving as much, 100 percent, in Test cricket where is the best suited place for Virat Kohli, no. 4.”


“I still feel personally KL should have batted at three, that's what I feel, that's different. But I definitely don't follow Gambhir's thinking of let's have the same batting order, so that there's consistency in their thought process and eventually the results will come out.”

Shortly after India’s collapse, former captain and legendary spinner Anil Kumble also expressed his disregard for Virat Kohli’s newfound batting position, and stated that Team India needed someone like Cheteshwar Pujara at the time instead.

With Team India folding up for just 46, New Zealand top-order mounted a lead of 134 runs by stumps on Day 2. Opening batter Devon Conway led the charge for the visitors by scoring a swift 91 at the top of the order.