India vs New Zealand: Dinesh Karthik comes in support of Virat Kohli

In the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India was forced to make adjustments to their batting order due to Shubman Gill's absence. The team decided to move Virat Kohli up to the No. 3 position and placed Sarfaraz Khan, who replaced Gill, at No. 4. However, both players struggled to find form, failing to get off the mark and raising concerns about the decisions made by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma. Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik did not shy away from questioning the team's management, particularly Gambhir's choices. Karthik pointed out that while he could not defend Kohli's disappointing performance—having recorded a nine-ball duck—he firmly believed that the No. 4 position would be more suitable for the iconic cricketer.

Karthik's comments highlight the ongoing debate regarding batting positions and their impact on player performance. As Kohli and Sarfaraz's failures in the innings became a focal point of discussion, the pressure on the management grew. The team needs to reassess their strategy, especially with crucial series ahead. The situation serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of cricket and the importance of making the right decisions in high-stakes matches. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how India adapts moving forward.

"I am not protecting Virat Kohli. He has the temperament and technique of some of the greatest batters that have ever played. 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," said former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik. 

Dinesh Karthik praised Virat Kohli for stepping up to bat at No. 3 on a challenging pitch, where New Zealand's seamers were in top form. However, Karthik believes that KL Rahul would have been a better choice for that position. He also emphasized that head coach Gautam Gambhir deserves a significant share of the blame for India's disappointing performance with the bat.

On Day 2, India was dismissed for a mere 46 runs, with Matt Henry taking a stunning five-wicket haul. As a result, New Zealand established a commanding lead of over 300 runs in their first innings by Day 3. The Indian team now faces an uphill battle, requiring them to play exceptionally well to turn the situation around. The performance has raised serious questions about team selection and batting order, putting pressure on both players and management. As the match progresses, the focus will be on whether India can rally together and find a way to bounce back from this dismal outing, especially given the importance of the ongoing Test series. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the team responds to this challenging situation.

"Results are one thing, obviously it hasn't gone his way today, but just the fact that India is at a place where people are willing to adapt and at the same time give respect to what the coach thinks, I won't say it is the right decision. 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," Karthik concluded.