IND v SL, Asia Cup 2023: Virat Kohli fails to left-arm spin again, day after sensational 122 vs Pakistan

It was jubilation for Virat Kohli on Monday in Colombo as he hit his 4th successive hundred at the R Premadasa Stadium on Monday, September 11.

15 hours later, it was a disappointment for the legendary India batter as he was undone by left-arm spin at the same venue where he has tasted plenty of success.

A day after scoring an unbeaten 122 off 94 balls against Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2023 Super Fours match, Virat Kohli was out for 3 from 12 deliveries after a unsettled stay in the middle against Sri Lanka.

Virat Kohli was in trouble against left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. The former captain was not able to middle anything as the 20-year-old was getting the ball to turn and grip at the RPS in Colombo. India were off to a fine start after winning the toss and opting to bat as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill added 80 runs for the opening wicket.

However, Wellalage got the wicket of Shubman Gill with a ripper that pitched in the middle-stump line and turned to hit the top of off-stump. Kohli was not able to get a grip of the proceedings and he hit one straight to the short mid-wicket fielder.

It was the end of Virat Kohli’s sensational run at the R Premadasa Stadium as he had hit 4 successive ODI hundreds at the venue including the one against Pakistan on Monday.

Wellalage did not stop there as he got the big wicket of a well-set Rohit Sharma. The left-arm spinner got the India captain out bowled with a delivery that kept low. Rohit was looking good with 53 off 47 balls when he was castled. Rohit had completed 10,000 runs in ODI cricket only a little while before.

Virat Kohli’s struggle against spinners has been highlighted in the recent past. He has been dismissed by left-arm spinners 22 times in his career. It’s also the 4th time in 2023 he has gotten out to a left-arm spinner.

VIRAT KOHLI VS LEFT-ARM SPIN IN 2023

out to Mitchell Santner in January
Out to Mitchell Santner in January
Out to Ashton Agar in March
Out to Dunitth Wellalage in September

India went from 80 for 1 to 91 for 3 as Wellalage brought Sri Lanka back into the contest in what was turning out to be an exciting contest between bat and ball.