Aakash Chopra Liked Virat Kohli For Not Showing Ego And Playing 2nd Fiddle To Rishabh Pant In The 3rd Test

Aakash Chopra has lauded Virat Kohli for keeping his ego aside and playing second fiddle to Rishabh Pant on Day 3 of the third Test against South Africa.

Virat Kohli scored 29 runs off 143 deliveries during his vigil of more than three hours at the crease. He played a supporting role to perfection in his 94-run fifth-wicket partnership with the aggressive Rishabh Pant.

Aakash Chopra Liked Virat Kohli Not Showing Ego And Playing 2nd Fiddle To Rishabh Pant Who Was The More Aggressive

While reviewing India’s batting performance in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra spoke highly of the Indian skipper’s dogged knock.

He said: “It was absolutely shutter down. The one thing I liked about Kohli is that there is no ego. He said he is the hero but he is happy being the hero’s brother. You play Rishabh Pant, I will play second fiddle. Fantastic Virat Kohli.”

The former India cricketer highlighted that Virat Kohli was the epitome of patience during his innings.

Aakash Chopra elaborated: “He kept on leaving deliveries – so much patience, dedication, determination and to know your off-stump. We have seen very few times that he has played 143 balls and scored 29 runs, even in that he got a boundary each of Rabada and Keshav Maharaj on the legs.”

Virat Kohli struck just four boundaries during his 29-run knock. Apart from a boundary through the covers off Marco Jansen’s bowling, his other three fours came on the leg side.

Aakash Chopra: Virat Kohli’s Nature Is To Dominate But He Went Too Much Into His Shell Unlike His Nature Which Resulted In His Wicket

However, Aakash Chopra questioned whether Virat Kohli playing against his nature contributed to his dismissal.

He explained: “But one more thing was felt that did he go too much into his shell because this is not his nature. His nature is to dominate while playing cricket. You can associate this with Pujara because he keeps leaving deliveries and it doesn’t affect him.”

The reputed commentator concluded by saying that the Indian skipper Virat Kohli might have finally lost patience and thereby his wicket.

Aakash Chopra observed: “Was it the reason that he flirted with a widish delivery because till when will you keep your natural instinct in check. But it was a very good knock because there was a partnership.”

Virat Kohli was lured into playing a cover drive off a delivery well outside the off-stump from Lungi Ngidi. He only managed to get an outside edge and was caught in the slips by Aiden Markram.

It is to be noted that Virat Kohli played a gritty knock of 79 in 201 deliveries in the 1st innings on Day 1 of the ongoing 3rd Test. He missed out on the second test as he suffered an upper back spasm. But on the first day of the 3rd Test, he showed immense grit and perseverance to stand tall against challenging conditions. However, he didn’t get much support from the other end as India bowled out for 223 in their 1st innings.

In the 2nd innings, Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 100-run knock came off 139 deliveries and was studded with six fours and four sixes. Despite his best efforts, Team India was bowled out for a mere 198 runs in their second innings. The Proteas in their 2nd innings is 101/2 at Stump’s on the 3rd day needing a further 111 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand and 2 days left.

South Africa 210 and 101 for 2 (Petersen 48*, Elgar 30, Shami 1-22) need another 111 runs to beat India 223 and 198 (Pant 100*, Jansen 4-36, Rabada 3-53, Ngidi 3-21)