Virat Kohli’s wait for the 71st international century continues as he nicked a delivery to first slip in the first of three Tests in South Africa. The legendary SA player Shaun Pollock felt Kohli would be pretty disappointed with the way he got out.
At the start of third session, he chased a wide outswinging delivery by Lungi Ngidi and handed an easy catch to Wiaan Mulder at first slip. The Indian skipper played a composed, controlled 35-run knock, in which he scored a couple of his trademark cover drives. But this delivery was almost on the 11th stump, and going after it proved to be a big howler from Kohli.
“Looking at his dismissal, he’s got to be really, really disappointed. He looked in such good touch; he looked so motivated; his feet were moving nicely. and he was getting in really strong positions.
To have chased that delivery on 35, almost when he was in set and looked like he was going to get a big score, I think he must be sitting at the hotel pretty frustrated at the fact that he got out in that fashion,”
Pollock said.
Kohli’s form in the last couple of years has been under scrutiny. He has played 14 Tests since the start of 2020 and has scored 634 runs at an average of just 26.41. In this period, Kohli has scored five fifties and got good starts in few other innings but has failed to convert those into big knocks.
As far as the first Test is concerned, India sit in a strong position after finishing the first day on 272/3. KL Rahul was the MVP for the visitors, staying unbeaten on 122*. His opening partner Mayank Agarwal scored 60 while Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 40* at the end of the day.
South Africa had a forgettable day starting from getting their XI wrong and losing the toss. The bowlers struggled to get their lines and lengths right throughout the day, bowling either too wide, too straight or too short. Only Lungi Ngidi found success as he claimed all three wickets in the day.
