Former Indian batsman and now a commentator VVS Laxman has opined that Virat Kohli’s innings in the third T20I against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday is a great learning lesson for any young batsman. Kohli couldn’t get his timing right in the initial phase as he crawled to 28 runs from 29 balls.
However, after getting settled, Kohli catapulted his attack on the opposition bowlers. Kohli changed gears like a super-fast car as he smashed 49 runs from the next 17 balls he faced. The talisman even didn’t spare England’s best bowler of the game – Mark Wood – who had scalped three wickets for 14 runs in his first three overs. However, Kohli took 17 runs off Wood’s final over to spoil his figures.
Kohli played with the field and there was no stopping him as he was well settled. The Indian captain timed the ball to perfection after he got his eye in. The team was on the back foot as the hosts had lost three wickets for 24 runs in the powerplay overs but with the help of Kohli’s heroics, the side posted a respectable score of 156 runs.
“At one point it felt if India can score even 140 or not because so many wickets had fallen. But once again Virat Kohli deserves all the praise. The chase master showed his magic in the last match but today the way he first absorbed the pressure and then built the innings, it was amazing batting and a learning for any young batsman on how you show your magic under pressure and the way to pace your innings,” said Laxman while talking to Star Sports.
Laxman added that the pressure was on the Indian team but Kohli absorbed the same and came up with his best in the testing conditions. The cricketer-turned-commentator lauded Kohli for using the depth of the crease and finding the gaps.
“Three wickets had fallen and he knew there was desperate need of a partnership, so first with Rishabh Pant and then with Hardik Pandya. I liked the way he used the crease, he knew where the gaps are and played shots in those directions, not only fours but we also saw sixes raining,” added Laxman.
Kohli added 40 runs with Rishabh Pant whereas he put up a 70-run alliance with Hardik Pandya, where he did the lion share of the scoring. The linchpin had scored 73 runs in the second T20I and continued his sublime form in the third game.
The fourth T20I will take place on Thursday.
