Border-Gavaskar Trophy: As Bumrah leaves, 'captain' Kohli calls the shots

Kohli took charge after Bumrah left bowling due to spasm

- SRIRAM VEERA

VIRAT KOHLI'S FIRST act of the day stemmed from forgetfulness. He went and stood at second slip, his customary position when Rohit Sharma tenants the first slip position. KL Rahul gestured to Kohli, who smiled, and went and stood in the first slip. That was the only 'lapse' as Kohli was actively involved in every little move through Australia's batting innings.

His last act of the day too was from memory, albeit bad muscle memory. He was livid with himself after stabbing at a back-of-length kicker from Scott Boland, edging it to slips. A day that had started brightly ended with him cursing himself on his way back to the dressing room.

Not only after the exit of Jasprit Bumrah, who left after bowling just one over after lunch for an injury that's not been made official yet but even while India's premier bowler was still on the field, Kohli took charge. He had done that to an extent at the Perth Test as well when Bumrah was the captain, taking care of the field placings but here he was a lot more animatedly involved in the process.