IND vs NZ 2nd Test: Virat Kohli Misjudged Full Toss Dismissal Stuns Pune Crowd as Mitchell Santner Strikes Again

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In a moment that left cricket fans and experts bewildered Virat Kohli's uncharacteristic dismissal off a low full toss dominated the headlines on Day 2 of the second Test in Pune. Facing New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, the former Indian captain attempted an unconventional slog-sweep.

This shot is not typically part of his repertoire and he misjudged the delivery entirely. This moment, a rare misstep in Kohli's illustrious career, came after he had faced just eight balls, adding yet another layer to the intriguing narrative of Kohli's struggle against spin on Asian pitches.

Kohli's intent seemed clear: break free of the spinner's dominance and keep the scoreboard ticking. Santner, known for his flat, accurate deliveries, exploited the opportunity by pitching a low full toss angled at middle stump. Kohli went down on one knee.

He opted for a slog-sweep, but misjudged the bounce and angle. The ball slid right under his bat, rattling the stumps and leaving Kohli visibly shocked. As the Pune crowd fell silent, Kohli lingered on the pitch in disbelief, eventually walking off while swinging his bat in frustration.

"It was the most unusual dismissal...the most un-Kohli-like dismissal," a commentator remarked as replays flooded the screen. The 24th over dismissal left cricket pundits questioning Kohli's shot selection, especially considering his prowess with other options on spin-friendly pitches.

Sunil Gavaskar noted, "All he had to do was flick it through midwicket. He does it so well with the bottom hand." Ravi Shastri echoed the sentiment, adding, "He could have taken it on the full and driven it to mid-on."

Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar took to social media, describing Kohli's shot as the "worst ever in his career," capturing the frustration shared by Indian fans. Statistics reveal a trend in Kohli's recent encounters with spin. Out of his last 26 innings on Asian soil, he has been dismissed by spin 21 times.

10 of those were dropped to left-arm orthodox bowlers like Santner. While Kohli's vulnerability against spin has been a point of discussion, his momentary lapse left New Zealand firmly in control, with India struggling at 68 for three after Santner's double breakthrough.