Agencies
New Delhi, Dec 5: Home boy Virat Kohli (83 batting, 154b, 10×4) finally came to the party against the visiting South Africans, playing an innings of real class here Saturday at the Feroz Shah Kotla. His knock saved India from a precarious 57 for four as the Indian skipper along with Ajinkya Rahane (52 batting, 152b, 5×4) took the hosts to 190 for four at stumps – an overall lead of 403 runs.
On a day, when the BCCI snubbed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s effort to felicitate the legends of Delhi cricket to have contributed to the Indian cause, Kohli stood tall on a pitch that was double-paced and the ball kept low. He had been without a Test 50 for his last Test innings, his last worthwhile knock of 78 coming against Sri Lanka at Galle in August. But he put all his disappointments behind and played an innings of sheer class. In the process, he also took it upon himself to shield first innings centurion Rahane, who had a torrid time against Morne Morkel (3/29 off 17).
His wide-legged stance and his inability to gauge the off-stump during the series had come under technical scrutinty with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar stating that Kohli should have a review of his technique. He probably would have done that, as during his entire unbeaten knock, Kohli was never seen feeling for the ball outside his off-stump. The trademark cover drive, flicks to the leg – all were there in abundance as the Indian skipper thwarted the South African bowlers, who had immediately after lunch, looked like running through the Indian order.
Kohli and Rahane have so far had an unfinished stand of 133 runs for the fifth wicket. More importantly, there tenure at the wicket has led to the further wear and tear of the pitch. That definitely will be another cause of concern for the South African batters when they bat fourth. Also they ensured that for once the season ticket holders of the game will have something to smile about – and that is the game not being over in three days. Rahane also continued his good form to notch up another good knock on the ground where he had made his debut.
The morning session definitely belonged to the South Africans as also a period after lunch. Morkel, who long has been under the shadow of the now-injured Dale Steyn, showed exactly as to why, he as a bowler, is to be feared.
The lanky South African, however, was lucky to get Murali Vijay, his steep delivery taking the batsman’s armguard en route to glovesman Dane Vilas. But then the ball he got Rohit Sharma out with was a peach. It squared the batsman all up as it nipped back off the seam to disturb the castle. Rohit had been promoted up the order to No. 3, but then his dismissal proved that he doesn’t have the technique to fit into that slot.
Cheteshwar Pujara (28, 79b, 3×4) and an uncharacteristically subdued Shikhar Dhawan (21, 86b, 2×4) stemmed the rot to some extent. But then immediately after lunch, Morkel had Dhawan with a toe-crusher – the batsman moved his toe, but could not bring his bat down in time to prevent the ball from crashing into his stumps.
Pujara, all this while had looked solid, unruffled. He was presenting a straight dead bat and looked good for many more. So when Imran Tahir bowled him with a top-spinner it left all, including the bowler a bit surprised. Pujara was neither forward nor back as the ball zipped past his bat to peg back the stumps. But that was the last laugh that the South Africans had for the day.
India will probably continue to bat as long as they can to take the match beyond the South Africans and set them a target beyond belief. The writing is clear on the wall – India can’t lose the game.
