Kohli factor gives India momentum
MAKING OF A LEGEND Kohli’s backto-back match-winning performances against India will rank among India’s best
Win against Pakistan and plenty is condoned. That is the nature of this sporting beast and the Saturday night fever at the Eden Gardens was no different after India revived their World T20 campaign at home in style.
India extended their domination over Pakistan in ICC tournaments to 11-0 with a sixwicket win on Saturday. But it was all about India’s master of the chase.
The innings of Virat Kohli and in the manner in which he took control after India were in danger of fluffing the lines for the second match in a row, will be up there with the best produced by Indian batsmen. THE SETBACK The defeat against New Zealand, on a rank turner in Nagpur in the first game, was unexpected. That meant India have to win the rest of the Super 10 games. The Eden Gardens pitch too was tricky and spinners extracted copious turn.
In the end, it was not merely another demonstration by Kohli: that he is a modern batting master, a natural successor to Sachin Tendulkar, a big brother in the batting line-up. Bowing to the master waving the Indian tricolour in the stands after reaching his half-century seemed a mere confirmation of that.
India will have to quickly regroup and get going in the tournament and Bangladesh are up next in Bengaluru on Wednesday. SNUFF OUT THREAT For the second time in a fortnight, Kohli snuffed out the threat of Pakistan’s pace-oriented attack. In the Asia Cup, he saw off the rejuvenated Mohammad Amir on a seaming pitch.
In Kolkata, the stakes were many times higher. Preserving wickets would have been the first instinct after Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan failed to do so. Yuvraj Singh splendidly did that as he had in that Mirpur fightback alongside Kohli.
But with Kohli, it was again about rediscovering one’s game to surmount the situation. The concern of whether he will save his wicket, or score at a certain pace all goes out of the equation. His ability to take charge and send the message to the dugout puts him in a different league.
Two years ago, on the tour of New Zealand, he had said how one can be aggressive even while defending. Over the last year, he has cut out his weakness outside off-stump, and each big innings has been as much about his skill as the way he has out-thought the opposition bowling. NO ANXIETY Reduced to 23/3, there was no sign of anxiety in Kohli’s batting. He has this ability to take self-preservation out of the equation, and focus on how to lead the team’s counter-tactics.
Against New Zealand, his dismissal nicking leg spinner Ish Sodhi’s first delivery led to India’s capitulation. He didn’t even let Pakistan bowlers have a sneak peek.