Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has lavished praise on Virat Kohli’s knock in the series opener against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday. The visitors registered a comprehensive five-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Chasing a DLS target of 143 runs, Kohli scored more than half of the runs in the run-chase, scoring 74 runs off just 51 balls. The pitch had extra bounce and seam movement for the pacers but Kohli batted at the top of his game to score 13 fours and a six.
Kohli completed his 80th ODI fifty off just 35 balls and also completed 13000 runs while batting at one down in the 50-over format.
Shastri said a 70-run knock was worth a hundred in the tricky conditions.
Speaking on Sony Sports, Shastri said, “A 70 in conditions like these is worth a hundred. He never got ahead of himself throughout the innings. And when he stays in fourth gear like this, then God help you. When the youngsters in the dressing room watch him and how he still gets angry at getting out at 38, they’ll understand they have work to do.”
The former Indian all-rounder said he took off the pressure off Indian skipper Shubman Gill’s shoulders.
He concluded, “He also took a lot of pressure off Shubman Gill at the other end. He gets off strike so quickly that the pressure is on the bowler at all times. I’ve seen him for all those years and I can’t tell you if he has batted better.”
Kohli has performed consistently for the team over the years, and he is going to hold the key in the rest of the matches against the Kiwis.
The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at the Hnry Stadium, Wellington, on Saturday.
