The Indian Test team skipper Virat Kohli might have missed a century against South Africa in the third Test match as he was dismissed after playing a solid knock of 79 off 201 deliveries on Day One but the character and mindset that he showed on Day One of the final Test received plenty of appreciation and attention from many.
Recalling the England tour
Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir has now come out and said that Kohli “left behind his ego in the kit bag”. According to Gambhir, this innings of Kohli reminds him of the successful tour that the 33-year-old had during the England tour.
"Virat has said many times that when you go to England, you should leave behind your ego in India. Today, Virat Kohli left behind his ego in the kit bag and this knock reminds me of his very succesful tour of England, where he got beaten many times but left a lot of deliveries outside off-stump," said Gambhir while analysing the first day's play in a television show.
“Today, in the same way, he left deliveries outside off-stump, he got beaten as well but kept his ego with himself. He did not try to dominate the bowlers on every delivery," he added.
Rabada dismisses Kohli
Kohli’s patient batting display helped the visitors to score 223 all-out in the first innings. The Indian skipper’s innings came to an end after pacer Kagiso Rabada short ball unsettled Kohli and the batter nudged it to Kyle Verreynne.
Another Indian batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara showed resilience and scored 43 off 77 deliveries and was eventually dismissed by South Africa pacer Marco Jansen.
Rabada was the best South African bowler on Day One after the 26-year-old right-arm pacer picked up four crucial wickets.
Former World Cup-winning batsman, Gambhir feels that in challenging conditions it is sensible for batsmen to “play in your shell at times” on the first day of a Test match.
"When you play in these conditions and against such bowlers on the first day, where there is help for the bowlers, you play in your shell at times although the South African bowlers did give him that opportunity," Gambhir explained.
