Virat Kohli, the modern day giant bid adieu to Test cricket on 12th May. The retirement of Virat Kohli was on cards given the reports emerging all around the media and not to forget that the abrupt retirement of Rohit Sharma which was announced on 7th May. It seems quite a connection between the sequence of events, but who knows, the real exact truth & reality
Virat Kohli’s presence on the ground was quite electric, he carried the burden of a billion people. The competitiveness was clearly seen & a never to say die attitude which made the opposition powerless. Virat with 30 Test centuries and 31 half centuries and 9,230 runs was incredible in the modern day cricket as his commitment for red ball cricket was unwavering. Let’s look at his 3 best knocks in whites.
Virat Kohli’s 119 vs South Africa in 2013 at Johannesburg
After the overseas drubbing in Australia in 2011-12 by 4-0, this was a major Test series for Virat Kohli. The star studded batter was a part of 2011-12 and his ton in 4th Test match was the biggest positive for India. The South Africa Test series was going to be an uphill task given Graeme Smith’s brigade was invincible at the home.
Proteas’ bowling attack comprised of Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel & Dale Steyn. A deadly trio who had created havoc on flat decks as well in past. The 1st Test match was at Johannesburg, India was in a spot of bother at 24-2 in 15.1 overs as during that time, playing ultra-aggressive cricket with new ball wasn’t a feasible option.
Virat was happy to play positive cricket against lanky pacers. The surface was quite dusty and Morne Morkel especially went ahead with short ball barrage, which Virat Kohli tackled quite smartly. Graeme Smith was irked with so much precision as all the tactics and field placements were proving to be ineffective.
Virat Kohli and Dale Steyn had a heated exchange as well when his score was 37 as we can say he was toying with the speedster. Virat Kohli got to his half century in just 76 balls; Tahir in particular was targeted as the half volley was effortlessly dispatched to the boundary. Pujara on the other side, was playing his natural anchor role.
Virat Kohli smashed his maiden Test century in South Africa in 140 balls. It was a knock for ages as the way he dethroned the world class bowling attack was breathtaking. India had a dramatic collapse after his dismissal with the side folding for 280. Virat’s knock of 119 runs in 181 balls ,including 18 four,s was a sign of a storm arriving in red ball cricket.
Virat Kohli’s good run in 1st Test match didn’t stop here. Virat in 2nd innings again was in a similar but good position while batting along with Cheteshwar Pujara with India’s score 93-2 in 33.5 overs. Virat surprisingly shifted his dynamics, occupied the crease and frustrated bowlers with his sheer mental application.
Virat & Pujara were involved in 222 runs partnership bettering 1st innings of 91 runs. Virat was quite unlucky to miss out on a ton as he got duped by JP Duminy and got stranded on 96 runs in 193 balls and struck 9 fours. Virat’s this Test match performance may be somewhat ignored as the match was drawn but we should not forget the trio of Steyn, Morkel & Philander had given nightmares.
Virat Kohli’s 141 vs Australia in 2014 at Adelaide
This match was quite special for Virat, he was leading the side for the first time as MS Dhoni was injured. Virat Kohli was deliberately targeted by Aussie players while he was on crease, the Mitchell Johnson- Virat Kohli saga also happened. The match was no less of a theatre; all 11 Australian players enticed and we can say somewhat encouraged him to play out of his skin and guess what he did.
In the 1st innings, India was trailing by 517 runs, and the team badly needed someone to bat long and cut down the deficit. The Adelaide surface was quite a batting paradise. The pressure of leading the side brought out the best in India’s former skipper.
India’s batting order at that time was quite inexperienced: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma against Aussies Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson & Ryan Harris, who were quite ruthless. Aussies targeted Virat’s off stump channel weakness which was exposed during England 2014 tour but the star batter was seen making good use of the crease to negate the threat.
The running between the wickets was awesome, Virat & Rahane made sure that the scoreboard kept on ticking. Indian skipper on debut was on fire and wasn’t afraid on getting into a banter/interaction/conversation with every player as it is often said that keeping Aussies silent isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
On the brink of Day 3, Virat was dismissed on 115 runs in 184 balls as he struck 12 fours. This was Indian batters’ 2nd ton in Australia and two back-to-back centuries in Australia. India got bundled out for 444 as Virat’s knock was pivotal. The Test match was quite a blockbuster as both teams fought hard and next what happened was unrealistic.
Aussies had set a target of 364 runs to win on the 5th day for India. Not many teams would have gone to win the match given the 5th day wicket becomes a minefield irrespective of how belter of a wicket it was earlier on Day 1 & Day 2. Virat Kohli as usual was quite animated and keen to rotate the strike and survived a run out in earlier stages of his inning.
Nathan Lyon was doing the bulk of bowling from one end. The pacers weren’t able to break the concentration of Virat by targeting him again and again, in fact that did wonders for India as the runs kept on flowing pretty quickly. Against Lyon, Virat was using his feet smartly to negate the threat of turn as the rough was getting created.
Murali Vijay’s dismissal opened the gates for Aussies. Vijay was quite unfortunate to miss the ton by a solitary run. There was a drastic collapse for India then. From 242-3, India fell like a pack of cards to 299-6. Virat Kohli at the other end was fighting like a lone warrior, the stand in skipper Brad Haddin used all tricks in the book.
The contest was exhilarating. Virat had notched up his century but needed support which was missing. Nathan Lyon got succeeded by forcing Virat to play a pull shot to deep mid wicket and Mitchell Marsh took the catch. Virat Kohli’s knock of 141 runs in 175 balls was surreal. The batter on a captaincy debut almost decimated a world-class bowling attack.
India may had lost the match by 48 runs but that game showed that Virat has got nerves of steel. We often forget that Cricket is a team’s game but Virat was more than a team, infact a cricketer who didn’t follow anyone’s legacy but built his own empire which gets him recognition around the globe in the sports arena.
Also Read:Â ENG vs IND: Records Broken By Virat Kohli In Test Cricket