Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock was in awe of Virat Kohli’s gritty knock on the first day of the final test match in Cape Town. Kohli played a gritty knock of 79 off 201 balls, though other Indian batters couldn’t replicate him as India bowled out for 223 in the first innings of the decider.
However, Kohli has been praised by one and all for his patient knock. Shaun Pollock also joined the bandwagon and he said that the Indian captain applied himself to counter the conditions against a challenging bowling attack. Kohli scored his second slowest fifty of his career as he reached the mark in 158 balls. Notable that Kohli 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.
Kohli played a gritty knock of 79 in 201 balls.
Pollock pointed out that Kohli was very watchful and circumspect while choosing his shot in his innings as the Indian captain looked determined to play a big knock.
“Mental application was the key to him. I think he came in with the mindset that, ‘I haven’t got a 100 in a while so I’m going to get stuck in here and try and get a big score and try to get to the three-figure mark.’
“He was very, very watchful about what he did. It was the second-slowest fifty that he’s ever compiled. The slowest was off 170-odd balls, I think it was in Nagpur on a very slow surface. And the third-slowest was off 120 so it just shows on the scale where it fits in,” Shaun Pollock spoke to Cricbuzz reviewing the first day’s play.
Notable that Kohli has been guilty of chasing wide deliveries outside off which caused his many dismissals of late. But in this knock, he was ready to play the waiting game. However, in between, he kept producing some beautiful cover drives.
“I think also, the shot selection. He didn’t go after anything, was very conscious about waiting for the bad balls. There were a few half-volleys that were bowled to him and every time he got one of those, he put those away. It was a different Virat Kohli innings and I must say, I enjoyed it,” he added.
At the close of the first day’s play, the hosts scored 17/1 as they lost the wicket of Dean Elgar. Aiden Markram (8*) and nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj (6*) remained unbeaten at the stumps.
Also read There Was Never A Concern With The Way Virat Kohli Was Batting-Vikram Rathour