Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri lavished praise on the star Indian batter Virat Kohli for his exceptional batting performance in 2nd innings against Australia in the Ultimate World Test Championship final. The former Indian skipper was at his absolute best as he batted with full authority on the fourth day of the massive final.
Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane scored at a quick pace to turn the fortunes in the favour of the Indian team, as they stitched an unbeaten partnership of 71-run stand for the fourth wicket of the game to give the Indian side a real chance to make a comeback in the game.
Speaking on Star Sports, Ravi Shastri heaped praise on former Indian skipper Virat Kohli for his composed batting in the 2nd innings and believes that he is close to his usual best in batting and reckons this is the version of Kohli he knows and feels that the star batter is close to achieving his purple patch in International Cricket.
“He looked very fluent today. I do believe he is close to what he was three years ago. He went through a patch where things weren’t going his way. But this is more the Kohli that I know. There’s fluency, balance.
“The feet are moving in the right direction. Whether it happens tomorrow or doesn’t happen tomorrow, but there is going to be a time very soon where there’s going to be a purple patch,” Ravi Shastri said
The star batter made runs all around the globe and established himself as one of the modern-day greats. Virat Kohli has been a revelation since he made a comeback into his starting in Asia Cup 2022, In the BGT 2023, The former Indian skipper scored a Test century after almost a gap of three years and five months and would look to continue his fine form in International Cricket.
It Sends A Message To The Opposition, I’m Coming After You – Ravi Shastri On Virat Kohli
Ravi Shastri analyzed his batting on the fourth day as he batted very well in the middle, putting away the bad balls by the Australian pacers making a statement to chase down the total and reckons that he was sure about leaving the balls eliminating the risk of getting out, which was a very good sign to play big innings for India in a grand final.
“What I like is that there was a period in his play where every short ball, he wanted to get after. As if to send a message to the opposition, I’m coming after you. Now, when he has started leaving deliveries, getting out of the way, he has realized that eliminating high-risk shots are very important if you want to play the big innings,” Ravi Shastri added.
At the end of Day 4, India was 164/3 at stumps as the Rohit Sharma-led side will require 280 runs to chase down their maiden World Test Championship final in Kennington, Oval.