Virat dawns again, India in control
HYDERABAD: Eight months back, Virat Kohli was considered the best batsman only in the shorter format. Centuries, big enough for ODIs, reeled off his bat with regularity.
But when it came to the Test level, lack of big tons held him back a bit. Fans and media still trusted Cheteshwar Pujara for the longer format.
But these eight months have seen the India skipper emerge in the traditional format with gigantic scores, seizing the title of best batsman.
On Friday, the second day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh, Kohli became the only batsman to score four double centuries in four consecutive Test series. Before him, Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid had hit three doubles in three successive series.
Kohli’s 204 alongside Wriddhiman Saha’s second career century helped India post 687/6 declared and take control of the match. Bangladesh were 41 for one at the draw of stumps, still 646 behind. The hosts also became the first team to score 600 runs in three consecutive Tests following their 631 and 759/5 against England in the previous series.
Before India’s tour of West Indies in late July, Virat had less than 3000 Test runs with an average that didn’t even touch 45.
But then the big scores began to cascade. In July, he made 200 against West Indies, followed it up with 211 against New Zealand at Indore, 235 against England at Mumbai and then here, a 204 against Bangladesh. In between there was also a 167.
Suddenly, his run aggregate has come close to 4500 and his average has shot up to 50. This run perhaps seals his high place in the dressing room, gets him more respect, something badly needed by a captain.
What marked these innings was the ease. He took just 239 balls to reach his double, with 24 fours. At tea on Thursday, he was 17 not out. By the end of the first day’s play, he had galloped to 111. Then by lunch on Friday, he cantered to 191.
There were stunning shots, none better than the one that he played on Thursday to get to his hundred.
A whip off the front foot to midwicket fence showed the strength of his wrists and the two punched drives that he hit off Taskin on either side of the
BETTER THAN THE BEST Skipper’s fourth double century in as many series takes him past Sir Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid
bowler over the two days, showcased great timing.
Then there was a boundary on the up, cover drive with heavy impact of wrists on Thursday and an upper cut on Friday morning. Giving him width in this form is a sin and Taskin did that early in the day. Kohli encashed and thereon milked the Bangladeshi bowlers in the first hour.
Apart from getting the length and line wrong, the inexperienced visitors continued to blunder on the field.
They gave a chance to Ajinkya Rahane at deep point, with Sabbir Rahman dropping him. Rahane, on 62, added 20 more. His 222-run partnership with
Kohli, the second best here, was responsible for India getting the boost.
Then Saha was let off as wicketkeeper Rahim missed an easy stumping. With one wicket down already, it will be a huge achievement for Bangladesh if they can even avoid the follow on.
(lb 5, w 1, nb 2) 8 (6 wickets dec; 166 overs)687
1-2, 2-180, 3-234, 4-456, 5-495, 6-569
Taskin 25-2-127-1, Kamrul Islam Rabbi 19-1100-0, Soumya Sarkar 1-0-4-0, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 42-0-165-2, Shakib Al Hasan 24-4-104-0, Taijul Islam 47-6-156-3, Sabbir Rahman 3-0-10-0, Mahmudullah 5-0-16-0
DOUBLE TONS BY SKIPPERS Because of captaincy you tend to go on more than what you usually would. Think the room for complacency is no more present when you become captain.