Kohli delights with a well-crafted century
Dhoni’s decision to bat vindicated as India makes steady progress
It is never easy stepping into a legend’s shoes. Virat Kohli strode out at the number four slot, a position that Sachin Tendulkar owned with distinction, and by the time the first Test’s opening day was over, the 25-year-old showed that he belonged, at least for now.
Kohli’s fifth Test hundred (119, 181b, 18x4) vindicated India’s decision to bat first at the Wanderers Stadium here on Wednesday.
At one stage, South Africa had reduced the visitors to 24 for two in 15.1 overs but Kohli retrieved the building blocks and at close, India scored had 255 for five with Ajinkya Rahane (43 n.o.) and M.S. Dhoni handling the second new ball with a fair degree of comfort.
Stepping in after Murali Vijay’s dismissal, Kohli handled Morne Morkel well while the latter was in the midst of a good spell.
Vernon Philander, who often pitched a shade wide outside the off-stump, was despatched past point as Kohli remained decisive on either feet.
Caution and aggression
It was an innings that negated the advantages that the South Africans sought to draw from a responsive pitch and also showed to his team that the host attack could be quelled with a mix of respect and timely aggression.
A four off Morkel with hands, bat and feet all moving in precise alignment while the ball sped straight down the ground, was a delight to watch and Kohli had many more nuggets before he weakly succumbed to Jacques Kallis and walked away disappointed.
Prior to that, there were minor scares when he (on 33) nearly tapped a Philander delivery onto his stumps and later there were two wafts (on 73 and 107) against Kallis but the ball harmlessly passed the bat.
If there was a flaw, it centred briefly on his legs that at times were on trigger-mode for that quick single.
Eventually that caused Cheteshwar Pujara’s dismissal. Kohli guided Imran Tahir to short mid-wicket, impulsively set off, realised his folly but by then Pujara was far too down on the road to despair.
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