On Sunday, India thrashed South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in Pune to take an unaccessible 2-0 lead in the three-match series. India had won the series-opener in Visakhapatnam by 203 runs.
Following on, Proteas were bundled out for 189 in their second innings in the final session of day four. India scored a mammoth 601 for five in their first innings with captain Virat Kohli leading the side with a record-breaking double century.
It was India’s 8th Test win by an innings under Kohli’s captaincy. The 30-year-old surpassed Sourav Ganguly and Mohammad Azharuddin, who had 7 Test wins by an innings. The record for most Test wins by an innings still stands with MS Dhoni, who has eight wins to his name.
After the win in Pune Test, former India opener Gautam Gambhir lauded Kohli’s captaincy and explained what sets him apart from his predecessors.
“If you are scared of losing, you will never win, and probably that’s the biggest plus he has, he isn’t scared of losing,” Gambhir said in the post-match show for Star Sports.
Gambhir added that he rates Kohli as a better Test captain than Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and even MS Dhoni, as under his leadership India started winning overseas as well.
“We talk about Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and MS Dhoni, but what Virat has created, India has started winning overseas as well.”
“He’s taken that risk, which a lot of other captains have not been able to take. The others always wanted an extra batter so that he they don’t lose the test match. Whereas, Virat is the only captain who has gone abroad and played with five bowlers, with Hardik Pandya being an all-rounder,” Gambhir added.
