It Was Difficult to Survive on Eden Gardens Pitch: Virat Kohli

Nov 20, 2017 at 6:08 PM

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It Was Difficult to Survive on Eden Gardens Pitch: Virat Kohli

With riveting Test match came to an end without any result on the final day after superb bowling by Indian pacers, Virat Kohli straightaway revealed it was difficult wicket to bat on in the initial phase when inclement weather marred first two days at Eden Gardens.

Kohli, who brought-up his hundred with a six, further explained they would take a lot of confidence from this game while banking on the strength.

“It was difficult to survive. You had to get to the ball and not let it seam,” Kohli told Sanjay Manjrekar in the post-match presentation while expressing satisfaction with the way bowlers bowled with their heart out in the final session of fifth day’s play.

Virat Kohli, India Vs Sri Lanka, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Kohli registered his 11th hundred as a skipper. Photo Credit: BCCI.

(Read Also: India vs Sri Lanka 2017: Twitter reacts you Virat Kohli’s Hundred at Kolkata)

The 29-year-old Kohli, who was unimpressive with the bat in the first innings, returned to flex his muscles to register his 18th Test hundred while playing his 61st Test match.

The batting mainstay remarked Sri Lanka bowled very well while adding the hosts had shown a lot of courage in the series opener in Kolkata.

“Didn’t try to think about the situation and pressure. Luckily they took the new ball. I thought I might as well go for it,” Virat added.

Following the excitement in the contest when Lankan looked hapless, Virat Kohli reflected that the game changed owing to the conditions sprung a surprise or so after many believed the Test would end on a draw.

“It was important to make something out of the game. As you mentioned, conditions changed drastically into day four, five. We had to show character. Sri Lanka bowled well,” Virat explained.

Virat Kohli, India Vs Sri Lanka, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Kohli has been a strong force for India as a leader and batsman. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

(Read Further: Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be Key for India in South Africa: Simon Doull)

Adamant in approach, after completing the 50 international hundreds, the right-handed batsman Kohli revealed he is looking forward to continuing to win matches for his side while giving his best as a batsman.

“Little bit go luck, bit of inside edge in the seventies. My journey hasn’t been long but it feels good. The mindset is always to go forward and help the team forward, and win Test matches,” Kohli maintained.

Virat Kohli, India Vs Sri Lanka, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Kohli always wears heart on his sleeve. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

However, in 26.3 overs, Sri Lanka was 75 for seven when on-field umpires brought out the light meters which further saw the players shook hands – to walk off the ground when the light faded in the fag end of the session.

“If we get enough good balls, which we did, just three short,” Kohli asserted.

Virat Kohli, India Vs Sri Lanka, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Kohli tried his hand in bowling as well in first innings. Photo Credit: BCCI.

Earlier, India declared their second innings on 352 for eight which saw Kohli smashing 104 off 119 deliveries. In his patient knock, Kohli smashed 12 boundaries and two sixes.

“We knew if didn’t let them get too far ahead, we can get back. Well, we didn’t look at Sri Lanka’s batting collapses,” Kohli further added.

Kohli has further praised the efforts of his new-ball bowlers while reiterating it has boosted the morale of the team after going down in the first innings while inclement weather and green tinge of grass has played its part early on.

“Bhuvneshwar has picked up pace. He’s going to be an important part of our plan going forward in all formats. Credit to him; he’s working hard and it’s paying for him. As soon as we lost Saha, me and Bhuvi started having fun out there,” Kohli concluded.

The bowling sensation Bhuvneswar sent down eight maidens in his 11 overs, as he conceded just eight runs in a bid to bag four wickets during the second innings of the Islanders.

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So far in 103 Test innings, Kohli amassed 4,762 runs at an average of 50.12. He has also 14 fifties under his belt since he made his Test debut against Windies at Kingston in 2011.

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