Why Zaheer Khan blamed Virat Kohli for ending his Test career, Ishant Sharma explains

Former India captain Virat Kohli is guilty of one of the costliest dropped catches in the history of Test cricket. Brendon McCullum, former New Zealand captain and current England coach, was relieved for 9 runs and scored a brilliant triple century in a Test between India and New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in 2014.

Although the bowler at the receiving end was Mohammed Shami, former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan blamed Kohli for ending his Test career during the match. Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma were doing commentary for broadcaster Geo Cinema during the India vs West Indies 2nd Test match.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra presented exactly the same Test match career statistics as fellow commentators Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan during the match. Both players took 311 wickets with 11 five-wicket hauls, but Zaheer Khan played 92 matches compared to Sharma’s 105. This led the group to discuss the curious matter of why Zaheer Khan missed out on playing 100 Tests for India.

cre trending stories

In response, Ishant Sharma came up with a story about how Khan jokingly declared his career over after Virat Kohli dropped a catch against New Zealand. “We were playing in New Zealand. Brendon McCullum had scored 300 and when Virat Kohli dropped the catch, I remember it was around lunch. Virat says sorry to Jack and Jack says, ‘No worries, we will get him out.’ During tea, Kohli again said sorry and Jack asked him not to worry. On the third day, when Kohli apologized during tea, Jack told him, ‘You have finished my career!'” Ishant Sharma recalled on Geo Cinema.

Similarities in Test career of Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan. pic.twitter.com/CCBfrC5qU2– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) 24 July 2023

Zaheer Khan clears up Ishant Sharma’s anecdote by revealing that he told Kohli that the last time a 300-run innings was played was because of a dropped catch. “I did not say that. I said there were only two players, the first was Kiran More who dropped Graham Gooch and he scored 300. After that, it is Virat Kohli who dropped a catch and someone scored 300 runs. Then, he told me not to talk like that, naturally because he wouldn’t feel good about it. The catch was missed and runs were scored,” Zaheer Khan said.

Zaheer took 5 wickets in an innings in that match but conceded 170 runs in his 51 overs. Thanks to McCullum’s 302 and centuries from BJ Watling and James Neesham, New Zealand declared their innings at 680 for 8 and managed to save the match.

Kohli scored an unbeaten 105 in the second innings of the match, although the game ended in a draw.