Senior India batsman Virat Kohli hit his 29th Test half-century on Friday in the ongoing first Test of the 2-Test series against West Indies in Dominica. The 34-year-old, however, would want to convert this into a three-figure score.
Kohli and his millions and millions of fans would be hoping that the superstar batsman makes this opportunity count – against a hapless, lackluster, non-threatening West Indies bowling attack on a slow-ish pitch that hasn’t assisted the pacers of the hosts and who are also currently without the services of off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who is out from yesterday due to a chest infection.
Virat had had to wait for a long time to get his chance to bat in India’s first innings as Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal both cracked centuries in their massive 229-run opening partnership. Then India lost two quick wickets of Rohit and Gill between the 75th and 79th overs. Enter Virat Kohli.
With the pitch offering some turn and bounce, Kohli was cautious in his stroke-making and batted calmly, not taking any unnecessary risk. Such was his caution that his first boundary came off the 81st delivery he faced; he even celebrated it with a fist pump and a big smile. The celebration of his first boundary was bigger than the celebration of his half-century.
Virat Kohli reached his fifty in 147 deliveries
It was a very subdued, nothing-great celebration from Virat of his fifty. He barely wanted to raise his bat but seeing the applause from the Indian dressing room, he raised his bat only once to acknowledge the applause. He had a wry smile on his face. His demeanor said it clearly that Kohli wasn’t going to be satisfied with just a half-century; he wants more today – he wants a big century.
Here watch Virat Kohli’s subdued celebration of half-century:
The moment King Kohli reached his 29th Test half century.
The GOAT! pic.twitter.com/hH8e0shqAC
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 14, 2023
