Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar hailed batting maestro Virat Kohli for his outstanding performances in the current Test series in South Africa. Praising Kohli, Manjrekar expressed his opinion that Kohli has demonstrated the potential for continuous improvement even after reaching the milestone of 100 Test matches.
At 35, Kohli stands as India’s top run-scorer in the current Test series in South Africa. Across three innings, he has amassed 160 runs with an impressive average of 53.33. Despite challenging conditions, he has notably emerged as India’s most reliable batsman by a considerable margin.
Sanjay Manjrekar Hailed Virat Kohli For His Versatility
When assessing the performance of the experienced Indian batsman in the Test series against South Africa thus far, Manjrekar shared his insights with ESPNcricinfo:
“I think he’s just more clear in his head. The last series [in South Africa], I keep harping on the fact that he had a strike rate of 34. I am sure somewhere he has decided that it’s not going to happen again – clear mind, no burden of captaincy, no pressure of retaining leadership, just focusing on his batting. The great man just showed how somebody can reinvent his own batting.”
He added: “He’s started playing those shots square of the wicket. That was a calculated move. The pull shots as well to ensure that he doesn’t graft for runs because that is not Virat Kohli. On a pitch like this, you need to be looking to score and my respect for Virat Kohli has grown immensely in this particular series. This performance is coming well after his 100 Test matches,”
Kohli entered the Test series against South Africa following a remarkable performance in the ODI World Cup. Kohli amassed a record-breaking total of 765 runs in 11 innings during the 2023 ODI World Cup, maintaining an impressive average of 95.62. His remarkable performance included three centuries and six half-centuries.
Although he didn’t participate in the white-ball games against the Proteas, he has displayed excellent control and form in the Test matches. Virat Kohli has notched up scores of 38, 76, and 46 in the three innings he has played thus far in the series against the Proteas.
Praising Kohli for his versatility, Manjrekar said:
“He’s reminded everyone how he is slightly different when it comes to this format. I know he had a great World Cup, but these are tough conditions and every time he has come out to bat, he hasn’t got out early. He’s hung in there. I think in the last innings in the previous Test, he would have got a hundred if things would have just gone normally.”
Innings Break!
India are bowled out for 153 runs in the first innings, with a lead of 98 runs.
Scorecard – https://t.co/j9tTnGLuBP #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/F942A4AIMY
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2024
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