There is no substitute for experience is an old age adage in sports for a reason. Virat Kohli showed that in the Boxing Day Test when he advised Mohammed Siraj to bowl wide of the crease to Steve Smith – a tactic that yielded the visitors the all important wicket of the Aussie great.
Australia found themselves in a spot of bother as they struggled to get runs in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Even though the scoreboard read 80/2 at the end of the 32nd over, the hosts seemed to be struggling to match up against the Indian bowling attack.
On the third ball of the 33rd over, Siraj bowled a wide half-volley to Smith, who, without moving his feet, threw his bat at it. The ball caught the outside edge and ended up in the hands of Pant before Siraj went off to celebrate with some gusto. However, the more telling fact was what happened before the dismissal.
Before the wicket, the stump mics had picked up Kohli telling Siraj to bowl from an angle. “Kone se daal (Bowl from the edge),” Kohli could be heard saying from the slip cordon. The Twitterati picked up on the soundbite and were full of praise for both the bowler and the former Indian skipper.
Planning
Tactics
Virat kohli 🗣
“Kone se kone se harr ball kone se usko pasand nhi hai “
Siraj keeps the ball wider and gets smith out 🔥#INDvsAUS #MohammedSiraj #ViratKohli #BGT2025 pic.twitter.com/0ZJd9Orvvf— @ab.the.villager (@abcdwheeliers17) December 29, 2024
The fiery celebrations of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma & Mohammad Siraj after Smith’s wicket. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/owxO0Jj8DK
— Praveen kumar (@Naninaidu98) December 29, 2024
Leader
DSP
DSP Siraj Arrested Smith ! 👮♀️ 🚨 #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND #AUSvINDIA #AUSvsIND #Kohli #RohitSharma #Rishabpant #Siraj pic.twitter.com/0DK4gfqbVx
— Jyoti Prakash Borah (@Jyotiprakashbrh) December 29, 2024
The fiery celebrations of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma & Mohammad Siraj after Smith’s wicket. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JXkz2jA9on
— Lorris (@lorris03) December 29, 2024
Dismissed
Kone se
Kohli to Siraj – “Wicket k kone se”
Siraj applied that & got Smith’s wicket.
Leader Kohli 🙇♂️🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/B29v5hgw49— Fearless🦁 (@ViratTheLegend) December 29, 2024
Kohli said: Kone se daal kone, isko pasand hai kone se
Siraj executed the plan and got smith out.
Leader kohli for a reason!#INDvsAUS— ɪɴꜱᴏᴍɴɪᴀᴄ♠️♥ (@iAbhiSaxena) December 29, 2024
Wide
