Virat Kohli: Back amongst runs, back amongst records
Virat Kohli is gauged on a different scale.
He is the man of hundreds, he is the man who breaks records for fun, he is the man whom you find on top of most lists, he is the one from whom you expect runs every time. He is the one you demand most from. He had not scored a Test ton for five Tests and the murmurs were already there. He also lost his number one ranking in Tests in that period. It was time to be back on the scale. It was time to take it higher.
Virat responded with his career-best score. Granted that it was not his most challenging century, nor the most savoured. He edged the ball quite a few times, he had reprieves from de Kock and du Plessis. And once when de Plessis had caught him, Muthusamy – the bowler had overstepped. But in between all this was an exhibition of breathtaking shots that would have pleased the spectators who were baring the blazing sun in open stands.
Also read: IND vs SA: 2nd Test – Record-breaking Kohli puts India in command on Day 2
Dominating Proteas, run by run!
When Virat came out to bat, India were comfortably placed at 163/1. With well-set Mayank Agarwal batting at the other end, the Indian captain had time on his hand. By the time, Agarwal reached his century and got out, Virat had faced 28 balls with one boundary off Keshav Maharaj.
Debutant Anrich Nortje hurried Virat with a short ball. Wicketkeeper de Kock leapt but the hook shot flew just beyond his reach. In the next over, Virat dominated the same bowler with a full-blooded pull shot that he was totally in control of. Once set, the genius brought out his cuts and wristy whips to inch towards the first milestone. An excellently timed cover drive off Vernon Philander brought up Virat’s 23rd Test fifty. He finished the day unbeaten on 63.
Next morning began with another battle between the bat and the ball. Early in the morning, Philander did extract an outside edge which once again evaded the diving wicketkeeper. Virat survived the tricky period and then began to dominate the bowlers. Slowly and surely, he marched towards the milestone which he had previously achieved 68 times in international cricket.
108.4, Vernon Philander to Virat Kohli – Four!
With a straight drive that raced between the stumps and the non-striker, Virat completed his 26th Test century. Post his ton, he became even more belligerent. Blunting the spearhead of South African bowling attack, Virat dispatched Kagiso Rabada for three cracking boundaries in space of seven balls. A straight drive, a punch to the long-on and a picture-perfect drive through the extra cover.
Taking charge in the partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, Virat ticked off runs as he progressed towards his seventh double century. Once past the record double hundred, the batsman broke the shackles and unleashed the attacking shots which he had shelved so far. Senuran Muthusamy’s overstepping right leg dragged down the South African spirits. In an unforeseen assault, India scored 113 runs in the next 11.3 overs. Jadeja’s dismissal drew curtains over the pyrotechnics while Virat finished with 254 not out.
In the course of his marathon knock, Virat ticked off records one by one –
Going past Dilip Vengsarkar’s Test runs tally of 6868 runs – Tick
Most 150-plus scores by a Test captain – Tick
Going past Sir Don Bradman’s Test runs tally of 6996 runs – Tick
7000 Test runs – Tick
Most Test double-centuries by an Indian – Tick
Virat breezed past these. When he wasn’t minting boundaries, he was running his singles hard. Under the belting Pune sun, the fittest Indian cricketer stood tall for the duration of the day. The greatest testimony to Virat’s mad pursuit of fitness was him running three while batting on 236. Leaving the glory of a triple ton for another day, the Indian captain limited himself to 254* – his new highest individual score, pushing himself higher and higher.
100☑️
150☑️
200☑️
250☑️#Kingkohli ‘s marathon knock keeps getting bigger & better. ? #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/TCR9WOFXu7— BCCI (@BCCI) October 11, 2019
