WATCH: Virat Kohli advices Ravindra Jadeja; Moeen Ali’s wicket falls next ball
Captaincy isn’t always about leading from the front, setting the right fields or making the right bowling changes. Sometimes, it is just going over to the bowler on instinct and offering a bit of advice or help.
We witnessed this first-hand at The Oval on day two of the fourth Test between India and England as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Moeen Ali moments after Virat Kohli had walked over to the spinner to share a chat.
The next ball, Moeen stepped out to tonk Jadeja down the ground, but miscued a catch to Rohit Sharma at cover.
The delivery was a teaser outside off-stump, thrown well wide of the batsman and slowed down at 56mph. Moeen, on 35 already, had looked rather settled and ready to take down the Indian attack when the brainfade happened.
It is unclear what Virat Kohli said to bring about the dismissal, but according to CricViz, it was the second slowest ball Jadeja had bowled in the innings. Kohli’s smarts to tip Jadeja about an impending slog from Moeen? Possibly. We can only speculate!
Watch the Jadeja – Moeen dismissal here:
Ali has thrown it away!
The
team will not be complaining though
Tune into #SonyLIV now
https://t.co/E4Ntw2hJX5
#ENGvsINDonSonyLIV #ENGvIND #MoeenAli #Wicket pic.twitter.com/cNHSNitHlG
— SonyLIV (@SonyLIV) September 3, 2021
A few social media users pointed out that Kohli had a brief, yet good chat with Jadeja a ball before Moeen was dismissed.
Captain Kohli planning with Jadeja just before the wicket
pic.twitter.com/ChO3366sfF
— #We want aggressive Kohli back
(@crickohli18) September 3, 2021
Kohli shared a few words with Jadeja before that ball,he might have asked him to flight the ball wide of off stump where Moeen goes for it and get out..#ENGvIND #ENGvsIND #Jadeja
— Geofinn_12 (@12Geofinn) September 3, 2021
Whatever was discussed between the two, it yielded India a massive breakthrough right before the tea break where England went in with a lead of 36 runs.