Aakash Chopra has highlighted that Virat Kohli’s 79-run knock on Day 1 of the third Test against South Africa was more precious than many of his centuries. With the series level at 1-1, India was all out for 223 in the first innings of the third Test with Proteas pacer Kagiso Rabada taking four wickets.
Virat Kohli played a resolute knock in India’s first innings of the ongoing 3rd and final Test and resisted the South African attack for 201 deliveries. Despite his efforts, Team India was bowled out for 223 runs to give the early advantage to the hosts in the series-deciding encounter.
Aakash Chopra: Virat Kohli’s 79 More Valuable Than A Lot Of Centuries
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra was effusive in his praise for Virat Kohli.
He said: “We saw the patience, discipline, determination, dedication and that it is mind over matter. Whatever you want to see in a batter in Test cricket, you got to see that. A century has not been missed by 21 runs but he has scored 79 runs. These 79 runs are more valuable than a lot of centuries.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Virat Kohli’s praise should be written in golden letters.
Aakash Chopra elaborated: “The lone ranger Virat Kohli was left alone as the entire team got out from the other end. You should write poetry in his praise, the sort of batting we saw. We see the beautiful shots from Kohli, we see the domination and the passion. Here, we saw the passion but not the domination.”
The South African bowlers persisted with a line outside the off-stump at the start of Virat Kohli’s innings and played with his patience. However, the Indian skipper did not fall into their trap and refrained from playing those deliveries.
Aakash Chopra: Virat Kohli Might Have Scored A Ton If He Wouldn’t Have Ran Out Of Partners At Other End
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Virat Kohli might have breached the three-figure mark if he had adequate support from the other end. He looked destined to get to that elusive 71st century. With no reliable partners at the other end, the Indian skipper went fishing for a delivery outside off after 200 deliveries at the crease.
He observed: “He did play the drives but played them only after forcing the bowlers to bowl straight, else he will keep on leaving the deliveries. If a partner had remained, he might have scored a few more runs and probably the wait for the century would have ended.”
The 44-year-old also termed the knock as one of the finest he has seen. Virat Kohli scored his second slowest fifty of his career as he reached the mark in 158 balls. Notable that he hasn’t scored a hundred since November 2019 but as he looked like getting one, he ran out of partners so he chased an outside off-stump delivery in search of quick runs.
Aakash Chopra explained: “Whoever saw this knock, will remember it for a long time. It was a knock of absorbing pressure, Kohli was exactly like a sponge. One of the finest knocks you would have seen.”
Aakash Chopra concluded by saying that Virat Kohli’s knock was a fitting birthday tribute to Rahul Dravid. He highlighted that the skipper demonstrated all the qualities of the current India head coach during his knock. Fit-again skipper Virat Kohli scored his highest score in 26 innings, with a gritty 201-ball 79.
Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen brought South Africa back into the game at Lunch with an unbeaten 50-run stand post-Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav’s fiery spell early on Day 2. Jasprit Bumrah castled Aiden Markram’s woodwork on the second ball of the morning while Umesh Yadav also cleaned up Keshav Maharaj to send South Africa totally on the back foot.
Lunch On Day 2 – South Africa 100/3 after 35 overs (Petersen 40*, Van der Dussen 17*) trail India 223 (Kohli 79, Pujara 43, Rabada 4-73)