Mumbai: When Mitchell Starc dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck in the first innings in Pune, it became clear that the hosts were in for a rough ride. India went on to lose the game by 333 runs, while Australia took a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
It was Kohli’s first duck in Tests in India and fifth in Test cricket. The batsman only managed 13 runs in the second innings, lowest in a home Test for Kohli where he batted in both innings.
Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly said Kohli will make a strong comeback against the Steve Smith-led Australia in Bengaluru.
"Kohli is human and he had to fail one day,” Ganguly told India Today. “He failed in both innings in Pune. I think he played a little bit of a loose shot in the first innings outside the off stump but the Australians bowled him there."
"They must have seen Stuart Broad and James Anderson bowling to him in England outside the off stump. In the second innings, I think the game was already over. A 441-run target was a humongous task. Kohli will come back because he is a class act. His record against Australia is unreal," he said.
Ganguly also sighted Kohli’s impressive record against Australia to make a case for his claim. In the 2014-15 four-match series away from home against Australia, Kohli amassed 639 runs in four Tests at an unreal average of 106.5. The India skipper also registered four tons during that series.
"To watch those four back-to-back Test match hundreds against Australia in Australia (was surreal). I have not seen even Sachin Tendulkar do that," said Ganguly.
"Getting four Test match hundreds in every venue on your second trip to Australia is a special special effort," added the former captain.
