By: Sandipan Bose
Four batsmen scoring 1000 runs is lot better than two batsmen making 800 runs. This defines a success story in modern cricket. And, who knows better than India’s Test captain Virat Kohli.
In the 1st Test, Kohli opted to bat first. He picked five five batsmen and bowlers along with a wicketkeeper in the playing XI. The Indian captain must be thinking at least three if not four batsmen would come in the first innings.
But only two emerged successful on the opening day, Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan. Again on expected lines, Kohli came good with the bat and scored his 12th Test century. He also completed his 3000 runs in Test cricket.
This was again a pressure situation for Kohli because three of his batting colleagues were a let down. Opener Murali Vijay got out to a peach of a delivery off Shannon Gabriel in the slip cordon.
The other two batsmen, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, couldn’t translate their good starts into big ones. So, Kohli did what he is known to do and completed his 37th international century
Fortunately, a much relaxed Dhawan decided to hang in there along with his team leader Kohli. They made a crucial third wicket stand of 105 runs. Their partnership gave a solid foundation to the Indian score.
Dhawan got out after batting for nearly two sessions while Kohli kept the scorecard ticking with R Ashwin towards the end of the day’s play to keep India in the hunt.
