Former India batsman VVS Laxman has opined that captain skipper Virat Kohli earns a lot of credit for the wicket of the experienced Ross Taylor on Day 5 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Taylor was dismissed by Mohammed Shami for 11 off 37 balls in the opening session of play and, as per the VVS Laxman, the Indian skipper had a key role to play in the wicket.
Shami bowled a complete delivery, and Taylor went for an uppish drive, only to be cleverly caught by Shubman Gill in the tops.
After a limited start to play, New Zealand began the innings on 101 for 2 from 49 overs. Only 14 runs had been scored when Taylor was sent back to the pavilion by Shami with the primary ball of the 64th over.
Analyzing Taylor’s release during lunch on Day 5 of the WTC final, VVS Laxman discusses with Star Sports that Kohli’s field placing for Taylor was spot on. VVS Laxman said in details:
“A lot of credit for Ross Taylor wicket should be given to Virat Kohli. Ross Taylor has the tendency to play in the air when he plays the drives and Shubman Gill was stationed there, just parallel to the crease, silly mid-off position and that’s the reason why he caught that blinder. Fantastic captaincy, a fantastic display of fast bowling.”
Indian bowlers did a great job in the opening session of the game on Tuesday. Shami went on to dismiss wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling (1), who will be retiring later in the WTC final, with a peach of a delivery.
A full ball bit away, beat Watling’s outer edge, and slipped into the stumps. On the other end side, Ishant Sharma had Henry Nicholls caught in the slips for seven.
Plenty of "make it large moments" on Day 5 as three wickets were taken quickly by India:
💥 Ross Taylor caught by Shubman Gill
💥 Ishant Sharma gets Henry Nicholls
💥 BJ Watling caught by Mohammad Shami#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | @royalstagmil pic.twitter.com/eiC1iHpx8I— ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2021
Indian fast bowlers displayed great intensity: VVS Laxman
India ruled the first session of play on Day 5 of the WTC final service of their pace bowlers. Even though the wicket of Taylor took some time ahead, VVS Laxman praised the Indian pacers for cannot leave the Kiwis off the hook.
“Ya, it took a while to take the wicket of Ross Taylor but right from the word go the intensity of the Indian fast bowlers, what we were expecting from Indian fast bowlers, that was to be seen. Fantastic display of fast bowling controlled aggression and a lot of discipline and also hats off to Virat Kohli.”
New Zealand went to lunch at 135 for 5. In the 2nd session of the play, Shami caught Coin de Grandhomme lbw for 13, but a swift cameo of 21 off 16 from Kyle Jamieson took New Zealand near to India’s first-innings total of 217.
It was Shami who ended Jamieson’s dangerous strike.
An effective bouncer from Shami brings an end to Kyle Jamieson's entertaining knock.
He departs for 21.
🇳🇿 are 192/7.#WTC21 Final | #INDvNZ | https://t.co/DJiZbY6M2i pic.twitter.com/8VULzGoBBQ
— ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2021
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