This is because, as per Southee, Kohli had the WTC final in mind and possibly saw a near seven-foot Kiwi fast bowler as a threat.
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Veteran New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has lauded Kyle Jamison’s decision to deny bowling Dukes to Indian skipper Virat Kohli during the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL). Both Jamieson and Kohli are part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise and fellow teammate Dan Christian said that the Kiwi pacer had denied Kohli’s request. Southee believes that Kohli was smart enough to ask Jamieson to bowl to him and the latter was right to say no.
This is because, as per Southee, the Indian skipper had the World Test Championship (WTC) final in mind and possibly saw a near seven-foot Kiwi fast bowler as a threat. Therefore, he might have wanted to get a closer look at his action. Jamieson was also the man to dismiss Kohli in the first Test of a 2020 Test series between the Indians and the Kiwis.
“I’m pretty sure that story is true. But that would be the answer to most batsmen why would you give them a look? It was smart from Virat to see if he’d fall into the trap but for Kyle, it was a no-brainer to not give the guy a glimpse of what he’ll be facing (in the final),” Southee told English newspaper The Guardian.
India do not have a particularly good record while facing fast bowlers in overseas conditions like in England, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. Off late, Kohli’s men have been the side to beat in world cricket. However, it is important to note that they do not have it easy against the Kiwis. It was New Zealand that knocked Indian out of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. The Indians were possibly the strongest favorites to win the whole tournament at the time.
As per the story of Kohli and Jamieson goes, Dan Christian revealed what transpired during a discussion between himself, Kohli, and Jamieson, on The Grade Cricketer’s YouTube channel.
“Pretty cagey from Virat actually, right in the first week we were here. The three of us were sitting down after the nets and these two were talking about Test cricket,” Christian said. “Virat said: ‘So Jamie (Kyle Jamieson) have you bowled much with the Dukes ball?’ and they are talking about that stuff,” he added.
“Jamie says: ‘Yeah, I have a couple of them here, I will have a bowl leading in before I go over there’ and Virat says ‘Oh, if you want to have a bowl against me in the nets, I am more than happy to face’. Jamie was like, ‘No chance I am going to ball at you!’ He would have looked at his release point and everything that he does with the Dukes ball,” the Aussie concluded.
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