Plan was to keep Kohli quiet, says Philander
cape town — South Africa’s wrecker-in-chief Vernon Philander said they had planned to keep India skipper Virat Kohli quiet and the hosts executed the plan to perfection during their 72-run win in the first Test.
“Virat is a top player, and the key thing is to keep him quiet, and make sure that we set him up with the other one. I always knew I had the one coming back,” said Philander, who took a career-best six for 42.
“It was probably two-and-a-half
It was probably twoand-a-half overs of awayswingers and then the one back at him (Kohli) Vernon Philander
overs of away-swingers and then the one back at him (Kohli). It was definitely a plan to keep him quiet, and also to drag him across to make sure that when you do bowl the other one, he is on the other side of the off-stump.”
Asked if he had told anything to Kohli after the dismissal, Philander said: “Nah, I never said anything to him. It was just obviously on the spur of the moment ? I just tried to spur my boys on, and thats what we tend to focus on.
“We knew that Virat was a big wicket to get, and getting him right there and then, I just strived to (enjoy it with) my oys.”
With 208 to defend against India, Philander said he knew he had to quickly take the responsibility of spearheading the pace battery and put his team in a good position.
“When you look at the type of score that you have to defend, 208, someone has to make the play. You cant wait for later in the game ? because there might not be a later on in the game,” he said.
“I knew that I had to bowl overs upfront and put us in a good position and make a difference.”
6 Wickets for 42 runs was Philander’s career-best