Kohli: How we beat Pakistan
Indian cricket skipper impressed with Yuvraj Singh’s big hits
It was another victorious day for India on the field, a result of some successful routines that the team has been able to sustain and gain from over a period of time. Whether it was batting or bowling, India could hope for little better than what they managed to do against Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Ahead of the game though, there were a few doubts still in their heads about things, like the best combination to go with. Eventually, they fielded an eleven that forced Mohammed Shami, R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane and Dinesh Karthik to sit out. The decision on the first two of the aforementioned names was probably the tougher of the lot to make. After the game, Kohli elaborated a little on the rationale behind the decision.
“The combination was something that we spoke about. We had named 12 yesterday, and then we decided in the morning that the surface was hard enough for the bowlers to keep hitting good, hard length and use the bouncer every over as well to create a bit of pressure,” Kohli said. “And we decided to play an extra seamer against Pakistan, purely because of the fact that he becomes a wicket-taking option. Throughout the innings, if you hit your areas well, in a place like England, fast bowlers always come into play with wickets.”
PLAN
The plan to fell Pakistan worked well enough and Kohli hinted that they exploited an uncertainty in the Pakistan line-up, something which Pakistan coach Micky Arthur too, felt was wrong with his team.
“Honestly, we wanted to bowl first as well, in the morning. But seeing how quickly they opted to bowl, we felt like they’re not necessarily wanting to chase a total down. And if we can get anything over six and a half runs an over, whatever overs we play, we’ll be able to create some pressure and get wickets in the middle overs,” said Kohli and added, “But to be fair to them, when Duckworth-Lewis comes into play and you’re chasing a big total, you want to create momentum and then wickets can fall pretty quickly. If you play dot balls then the game doesn’t go anywhere, you try a few shots and you lose wickets. That happens usually in shorter format games.
“It’s not something that’s happened for the first time. Teams do tend to try to attack and get out as well. So it’s a pretty normal thing, but I would say a very clinical performance from our team.”
BIGGEST FACTOR
The biggest factor that pleased Kohli though was the clean hitting of Yuvraj Singh, who smashed a 32-ball 53, when India were looking to up the ante in between several rain-breaks. The skipper admitted that he was struggling for rhythm in the middle overs.
“I think I was pretty okay till 40. After that, you know, seeing how shortened the game was, me and Yuvi decided that we were going to take it on. He started striking it really well. I couldn’t get it away.
I think until 40 I was easing into the game, taking my ones and twos like I always do. I could not go for the big ones because it was tricky. We went off about four times. And we came back in, and so as a player who likes to play the long innings, till the end and usually plays like that for the team, it becomes very difficult to find momentum every time you come back. And all you’ve gotta do is play yourself in again,” said Kohli and added, “Yuvi came in and just took all the pressure off me.”
“And the way he batted, the way only he can strike the ball, hitting low full tosses for 4s and 6s, and even digging out yorkers for fours, was outstanding. I think that really deflated the opposition and that gave me a bit of time to settle in from the other end. When he got out, I took over. But I think his innings was a difference in the game.
“If he plays like that, you know, the team is always in a good space because you can really rely on him to come in and just play a match [changing] innings, more often than not. And he ended up doing it three out of five times.”