Black Caps struggling to contain India’s ace
The photograph sums it up. New Zealand seamer Jimmy Neesham, standing head in hands mid-pitch, as India’s Virat Kohli trots past for another run like he’s strolling down the hallway at home.
It didn’t end well for the Black Caps, now familiar with that helpless feeling. Kohli finished 154 not out in Mohali as India won the third one-day international by seven wickets, leaving the tourists 2-1 down and needing victory in Ranchi on Wednesday to avert defeat in the five-match series.
How to stop Kohli is the question often posed but rarely answered by bowlers and captains the world over.
In his last 10 ODI innings, against South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Kohli has four centuries, a 91 and an 85 not out (in game one in Dharamsala, also an Indian victory).
His 26th century from just 166 innings boosted his career average to 52.90. He ranks fourth on the alltime century list, behind Sachin Tendulkar (49), Ricky Ponting (30) and Sanath Jayasuriya (28). Sixteen of those Kohli centuries were when chasing; 14 leading India to victory.
Chasing 285, a spluttering Black Caps innings when they needed 300-plus, Kohli and an elevated MS Dhoni added 151 for the third wicket on a decent pitch to get home with 10 balls to spare.
Pace spearhead Trent Boult’s experience summed up the brutal nature of trying to quell Kohli.
In game two Boult’s 2-25 was his most economical 10-over spell, after Mitchell Santner had strangled Kohli down the leg side for nine.
In Mohali, Boult’s figures were 10-0-73-0, his most expensive return, as Kohli plundered the leftarmer for a staggering 54 off 33 balls.
‘‘We fought pretty hard with the bat to get what was a slightly below par total. I don’t think we bowled that badly in the second half of the game, but the way Virat and MS batted was outstanding,’’ Neesham said.
‘‘When you’re dealing with two of the best chasers in the history of