With their win over ICC table toppers India by 72 runs in the opening Test match of three-match series, high-spirited South Africa are looking for series win in the second Test match at Centurion. After winning the toss, the Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis opted to bat and scored 335 runs before getting bowled out. Following the target, captain Kohli led from the front and scored an unbeaten 85 runs for the visitors, taking their total to 183 for 5 in their first innings on the second day of the second Test at the SuperSport Park.
Now, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya (11 batting) will take the Indian innings forward on the third day of the second Test. During his explosive 85 runs, Kohli hit eight fours and scored his unbeaten 16th half-century in the Test cricket. It seems as if Kohli has found a way out to counter the pace attack of Vernon Philander, Lungi Ngidi, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada.
Meanwhile, when Pandya came in to bat, he was found struggling with the moving balls. But captain Kohli helped him understand the ball from non striker’s end. According to a report in Cricbuzz, Virat was seen holding his bat in his left hand for signaling a delivery that was going to go away, while he would hold his bat in right hand for the incoming delivery.
Virat Kohli also helped Pandya with his body language, stretching out his right one for an inswinger and left for an outswinger.
Interestingly, in the 60th over, mic recorded rather amusing conversation between Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya.
“Yahan pe change kiya (He changed it here),” Virat said after playing stroke at the pacer’s third ball. “Andar ke liye leke hi bhaagaa tha woh (He ran in with the one that would originally come in), said Hardik.
“Jo leke niklega agar change karega toh uska opposite hai (the side of the ball he runs in with, if he changes, it will go the opposite way),” said the skipper.
When Pandya asked if he too needed any help, “Main bataaun aapko? (Should I tell you on spotting?)”.
“Nahin nahin, mujhe dikha, main bataa raha hun (No, no.. I spotted it, I am just telling you),” Kohli further added.