Virat Kohli silences his critics with bat in first innings of the first test.
The second day at the Edgbaston Test was worth a watch for every Test cricket fan. Those who say that test cricket has become dull and irrelevant should witness the matches like this. And when the battle is between the champion Jimmy Anderson and warrior Virat Kohli, it becomes even more thrilling and delight to watch the game.
Virat Kohli continued to stand like a rock against the pace battery of England when his all the teammates were crippling down. Though he was dropped twice the Malan in the slip, but the intent, patience and grit with which he faced the Anderson and chipped in fours and doubles leading his team near to the total of England’s first innings against other bowlers while cementing 90 plus partnership with the last two batsmen down the order tells a volume why he is the best batsman in the world in present time.
Virat Kohli had difficulty picking up the swing of Jimmy Anderson. His bat missed the connection with the ball at times. He even seemed to struggle against the lethal outswing deliveries of Anderson. Every time Anderson ran to bowl Kohli, the spectators echoed the sound. At times, Virat Kohli was booed the spectators when he couldn’t make the right connection of bat with the ball. But, in the midst of all of the this, Virat Kohli not only survived but thrived and went on to score his maiden ton in England at a time when the team India needed the most.
He didn’t lose his composure and most importantly didn’t allow his ego to come in between his game. He gave the respect to every good ball it deserved and didn’t miss the opportunity to show the boundary to every bad ball. He read the ball, took his time, and didn’t play the loose shots even when Anderson bowled consecutive maiden overs against him. He not only silenced his critics with the bat and blew off the ghost of 2014 England tour with his masterclass innings, but also showed the kind of temperament, grit and focus which sets the great players apart from rest of the mediocre players. And there is no doubt in saying that this knock of 149 off 225 balls will be immortalized as one of the finest Virat Kohli’s Test century ever.
Currently, I am pursuing B.A(H) Political science from Satyawati College, Delhi University.
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