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India is gearing up for the concluding segment of their tour in South Africa, which commences on December 26th with a highly anticipated two-match Test series. This series is particularly notable as it marks the return of cricketing icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to international cricket. As India aims for an unprecedented Test series win on South African soil, the spotlight will be on these seasoned players, especially Kohli, given his impressive track record in South Africa.
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Virat Kohli, renowned for his remarkable batting skills, holds the distinction of being the second-highest run-scorer among Indian cricketers in South African Test matches. With seven Tests played in South Africa, Kohli has amassed 719 runs, boasting an impressive average of 51.35. His performance in these conditions has been a subject of praise and analysis.
Fanie de Villiers, the former South African captain, weighed in on Kohli's batting technique in a conversation with PTI. He opined that the key to dismissing Kohli in Test cricket lies in persistently targeting the fourth stump line and hoping for the ball to exhibit some unexpected movement off the pitch. This tactic, according to de Villiers, could potentially pose a challenge for Kohli.
"Only way to get a Virat Kohli kind of batter out is a very orthodox way of bowling on the fourth stump channel and play a waiting game. And wait for that one delivery which nips a bit far away," de Villiers told PTI.
"You can't attack a good player, he was straight," he added.
De Villiers drew parallels between Kohli and another cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar, noting that Kohli, much like Tendulkar, presents a formidable challenge to bowlers due to his exceptional batting prowess and resilience at the crease.
"Like in case of Tendulkar, it was silly to always wait for leg before (to an incoming delivery). Because he would hit you through mid-wicket. So bowl those deliveries outside off-stump (to Virat) and wait for one to either nip away or nip in," de Villiers concluded.
The first match of the Test series is set to take place in Centurion, starting on December 26th. This series is not just a test of India's capability to conquer new frontiers in Test cricket but also a platform for Kohli to showcase his batting mastery, particularly in a challenging overseas condition. As India and South Africa prepare to face off, cricket fans worldwide eagerly anticipate a series filled with high-quality cricket and potential historic achievements.
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