India captain Virat Kohli waged a lone battle to lift the struggling visitors to 183 for 5 in their first innings on the second day of the second cricket Test against South Africa in Centurion.
The stylish right-hander hit eight fours in his unbeaten 16th half-century in Tests after India bowled out the Proteas for 335 in their first innings in the pre lunch session.
Kohli and Hardik Pandya were at the crease when umpires called for the end of day’s play with India still 152 runs behind the hosts’ total. While his teammates struggled against Vernon Philander, Lungi Ngidi, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada, Kohli seemed to have found a way to counter the moving ball, into and away from his body.
In fact, Kohli from the non-striker’s end, even helped Pandya figure out which way the ball would move after pitching. Kohli would hold his bat in his left hand to signal an away going delivery, to help Pandya prepare for an incoming ball Kohli would hold the bat in his right hand. Also, Kohli later changed the mode of communication by using his feet to signal to Pandya. Stretching out his left for an outswinger and right one for an inswinger.
Here’s how the conversation between Kohli and Pandya went:
Kohli: Yahan pe change kiya (He changed it in this delivery)
Hardik: Andar ke liye leke hi bhaagaa tha (He started to run with the one that would drift in)
Kohli: Jo leke niklega agar change karega toh uska opposite hai (The side of the ball he runs in with, if he changes, the movement will be opposite)
Hardik: Main bataaun aapko? (Should I tell you on what he is doing?)
Kohli: Nahin nahin, mujhe dikha, main bataa raha hun. (No, no.. I picked it, I am just telling you the strategy)
Here’s the video:
https://twitter.com/PrakashG_CB/status/952628489726836736
