Twitter Reactions: Virat Kohli tantalisingly falls short of his 23rd Test century at Trent Bridge

Virat Kohli, from the Indian team’s perspective, hasn’t had an auspicious time in the ongoing five-match Test series against England. The visitors are 0-2 down in the series and have plenty of work do in order to arrest their slump. The third Test is currently taking place at Trent Bridge in Nottingham and India had to bat first after England won the toss and elected to field first.

However, the Indian captain entered the match as the leading run scorer of the series with 240 runs from four innings at an average of 60. India got off to a decent start courtesy of a 60-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul. Nevertheless, Chris Woakes removed the duo along with Cheteshwar Pujara to reduce India from 60/0 to 82/3 in a space of 48 balls.

Kohli falls prey to Rashid’s guile

The onus was again on Kohli to drag his team out of the slump. He had Ajinkya Rahane, who flattered to deceive in the first two matches, at the other end. The duo cobbled together 159 runs and put India in a position of command. They also played the entire post-lunch session and put England some pressure. Against the run of play, Broad accounted for the wicket of Rahane.

Nevertheless, Kohli carried on and buckled down to convert his half-century. He was joined by Hardik Pandya after Rahane’s dismissal. The Delhi-born batsman didn’t panic whatsoever. He turned the strike over and got ever so close to his 23rd Test century. Just when it seemed that the 29-year-old is all set to accomplish the milestone, Adil Rashid nipped him out for 97 runs.

The tweaker tossed up the leather and Kohli tried to smack it down to sweeper cover. Unfortunately, the ball found his outside edge and Ben Stokes made no mistake in grasping the ball. It was also the second instance when Kohli got out in the 90s in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Twitter couldn’t believe what panned out.

Here is how Twitter reacted  

Kohli will be in anger and pain. There was a hundred there after he had done the difficult work. Just wonder if he thought there was an easy boundary against Rashid who had done little of note.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 18, 2018

Not about the 3 runs that he didn't score. It's about the 97 that he did. Well played, skipper. #RunMachine #Kohli

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 18, 2018

now @imVkohli = @sachin_rt #NervousNinetees#ENGvIND

— keshav (@Silence_Speaks) August 18, 2018

They deserved 100s, yet both will be proud of the wings they have given the Indian team – Virat and Rahane #IndvEng

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 18, 2018

My reaction when kohli gets out 🤕#ENGvIND #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ny4pbCIiIt

— Nebula (@Udayaditya75) August 18, 2018

As always you were awesome out there @imVkohli 👌🙌 #ENGvIND

— Sejal 🏏 (@sejal_mokal) August 18, 2018

Virat Kohli missed his well deserved hundred by just 3 Runs 😖

But Very well played Champ ❤#ENGvIND #INDVsENG #ViratKohli

— Bappa Samui (@bappamsdian) August 18, 2018

Its only second time in career Virat has been dismissed in nervous nineties. Earlier Vs South Africa, he was out after scoring 96 at Johannesburg. #ENGvIND @pakwakankar @Sanjay_onair @imVkohli @TeamVirat @cricyashpal

— Manish Jha (@manishjha11) August 18, 2018

Horrible time to get out! Come on @imVkohli new ball in 4 overs! Solid innings but India needed a lot more. Need 375 to be able to control this game.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) August 18, 2018

Poor shot selection from @imVkohli Missing out a superb century!! #ENGvIND

— HARSHIT DESAI (@harshitdesai92) August 18, 2018

Virat kohli (on 97) got out on the ball of Adil rashid just to prove that he exist in the england team. #ViratKohli #INDvENG #selfless

— Himanshu Mittal (@himanshuumittal) August 18, 2018

What a shame for @imVkohli @BCCI as he falls 3 runs for another deserving 100. So sad 😥

— siddharth haribhai (@sharibhai) August 18, 2018

Cheer up Virat Kohli…

— Tom Haylett (@TomJHaylett) August 18, 2018

Can I just say how proud I am of @imVkohli
10 Years into the game and he has only gotten better and better

— . (@loyallarents) August 18, 2018

Only the 2nd time Virat Kohli got out in the 90s in Test cricket. He was dismissed on 96 in the 2nd innings of the 2013 Johannesburg Test.

Kohli converted his previous 17 scores of the 90s into 100s. An Indian record! #ENGvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) August 18, 2018

Virat Kohli loses his wicket to Adil Rashid yet again. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/putGARqL9O

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) August 18, 2018

This knock means Kohli will again leapfrog Smudge in the Test rankings

— Abhay (@ImAbhay3) August 18, 2018

@garybrannan You watching the England/India test match? India's Virat Kohli was just caught 3 runs short of a century. That's gotta be frustrating.

— Vincent Killion (@Vicendithas12) August 18, 2018

Oh my kohli…….i was waiting for your century with my mobile charging… Anyway good innings. @imVkohli #EngvInd #INDvENG

— Bhaskar Raju (@bhaskarraju45) August 18, 2018

Another mistake. Rahane hands it over a pacer and Kohli hands it to a spinner.
Courtesy – Vulnerability 🙁
Well played @imVkohli 🔥#ENGvIND #10YearsOfKingKohli

— Rohan Singh (@ImRohanSingh19) August 18, 2018