Virat Kohli recorded one of his finest Test fifties against England on Day 3 of the second Test against Chennai on Monday. He brought up his 25th half-century in a style that was the second of the series but the fact that it was scored in tough challenging conditions makes this knock special.
On a turning track aiding spinners where the rest of the Indian batsmen struggled on the third day, Virat Kohli batted with immense grit, steady resolve, and determination and along with all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, added a 96-run partnership to extend India’s lead to above 400. Virat Kohli fell after scoring 62 while Ravichandran Ashwin is still batting on 87 with India placed at 247/9 having a lead of 442 runs.
Virat Kohli Always Had Great Technique Against Spinners As He’s Been Old Fashioned And Classical In Batting Approach: Sanjay Manjrekar
Virat Kohli’s innings was a batting masterclass, almost a lesson for batsmen around the world on how to tackle spin.
“He’s always had great technique against spinners. He’s been very classical, very old fashioned, very copybook where if the ball is pitched right up, he gets onto the front foot. And when he gets onto the front foot, it stretches really long. And he ensures that he backfoot stays inside the crease unlike Rohit Sharma,” Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.
“And if the ball is slightly short, where he feels he can’t get on to the front foot and get it under-hit bat, he rocks back and plays off the back foot. So he’s one of the few modern-day batsmen who can play the pull shot against spinners on a turning pitch.”
His technique was hailed by former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, who highlighted how the India captain has always been an old school batsman when it comes to playing spin, which has allowed Virat Kohli to thrive against the likes of Jack Leach, Moeen Ali and other part-time English spinners.
Virat Kohli Will Make Necessary Adjustments As He’s Got A Great Sense Of Hand And Eye Co-ordination: Sanjay Manjrekar
In fact, in the first innings, Virat Kohli was bowled without opening his account to a classic off-spinner from spinner Moeen Ali as the ball slipped through the ‘gate’ and knocked the top of the India captain’s off-stump. But Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that such sights are and will be rare, given the amazing ‘hand-eye’ coordination the Indian skipper possesses.
“That technique and that understanding of how the ball behaves – you see that with Ashwin as well – so any batsman who has a feel for the ball will make the necessary adjustment. This is something that the academy-taught batsmen, or who are shaped on bowling machines can struggle a bit, but anybody who’s got a great sense of hand-eye coordination tends to do well on these types of pitches,” he added.
Virat Kohli was cleaned up by an excellent delivery from off-spinner Moeen Ali, which castled his stumps in the 1st innings. Moeen Ali became the first spinner in the world to dismiss the Indian skipper on a duck in Tests.
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