Watch: Virat Kohli picked up his first ODI wicket in nine years when he strangled Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards down the leg side during their World Cup clash, leading to wild celebrations all around.
Kohli, who last bowled a full over in ODIs in 2017, was called to fill in for three deliveries midway through a Hardik Pandya over against Bangladesh in the ongoing World Cup after the all-rounder sustained an ankle injury. Since then, the fans have wanted to see more of Kohli the bowler, first urging skipper Rohit Sharma to give him the ball with screams of “Kohli ko bowling do” [Give Kohli the ball] at Wankhede, with the chants following in Kolkata as well.
Kohli, amazed at the shouts, joined his hands and hilariously requested the fans not to ask him to bowl, with videos going viral on social media. Head coach Rahul Dravid, drawn into the online chatter, later admitted tongue-in-cheek that India could always count on Kohli, calling him the “wrong-footed inswinging menace.”
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The fans’ wishes were finally fulfilled in Bengaluru when Kohli was thrown the ball in the 23rd over of the Netherlands innings. He gave away seven runs in the over and just when one thought that was it from him, he was given a second over. On the third ball, he bowled wide down the leg-side to Edwards, but the batter managed a nick to the keeper, giving Kohli a wicket.
The scenes that followed were pure joy, as Kohli, who could not believe what had transpired, turned around to the fans and then his wife in the stands, celebrating with a big grin on his face.
Edwards was Kohli’s fifth ODI wicket, having also dismissed Alastair Cook, Craig Keiswetter, Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum earlier.
Watch the wicket by Virat Kohli here:
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