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SPORTS DECEMBER 13, 2024 | The Indian Eye 41

TEAM INDIA DOWN UNDER

How Virat Kohli got back into form with a

class century at Perth, explains Ravi Shastri

When India last played a Test match against Australia in Adelaide in BGT 20-21, the visitors were

bundled out for 36 - their lowest score in Test history- in the second innings

OUR BUREAU
Adelaide
ormer India head coach Ravi
Shastri opened up on stalwart
Fbatter Virat Kohli’s unbeaten
ton in the first Test of the ongoing
five-match Test series. The star Indi-
an batter had struggled in the months
prior to the Australia tour, managing
just one half-century and averaging a
modest 21.33 across five home Tests
against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
However, Ravi Shastri remained
unwavering in his faith in the lead-
up, boldly claiming in an earlier ep-
isode of The ICC Review that the
“King is back in his territory” against
Australia. His prediction proved spot
on, as Kohli smashed his 30th Test
ton in the second innings, putting the
game well beyond Australia’s reach
en route to India’s mammoth 295-
run win.
His 100 (not out) off 143 balls
was a throwback to his best, show-
casing a perfect blend of composure
and attacking strokeplay. Speaking
to Sanjana Ganesan on the latest
ICC Review, Shastri broke down
Kohli’s performance in Perth, com-
mending his swift adaptability to the Virat Kohli celebrates his century during Day 3 of the first Test match against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy at Perth Stadium (ANI)
conditions and highlighted the key
adjustments that powered his return sically his composure and the way he match against Australia in Adelaide cricketer added.
to form. moved in the crease. You knew with- in BGT 20-21, the visitors were bun- The then India head coach point-
“He came out not like a cat on in 10 minutes, I’ve seen a lot of his dled out for 36 - their lowest score in ed out that a defeat in their previous
a hot tin roof. That impressed me batting, but within 10 minutes, you Test history- in the second innings. pink-ball outing against Australia had
the most. Otherwise, a batsman gets knew that if this guy has a little bit of “I don’t think it will play any an element of freak attached to it.
out, even before the guy walks 10 luck in the first 20-25 minutes, he is role but it should be at the back of “See, what we did after that 36
yards from the stumps, Virat is half- going to make it count. So, it didn’t their mind because you know things was - like I said at that time - that I’d
way down into the ground. Take your come as a surprise. Sometimes you happen very quickly with a pink ball. never seen, and I said it in the dress-
time. You are one of the best the see it very quickly. So that start gave You realise that in a session of play if ing room, I’d never seen so much
world has seen. Let the opposition me that confidence to believe that,” things don’t go your way and the bowl- of playing and nicking as opposed
play at your pace. And that’s exact- the former Indian cricketer added. ing is good, things can happen rap- to playing and missing. I’d watched
ly what he did in both the innings,” Ravi Shastri also recalled 36 all- idly,” Shastri told The ICC Review. cricket for about 40 years. And to
Shastri said as quoted by the ICC. out score of Indian teams at the ven- “Now the fact that they are one be honest, that was a session where
“In the first innings, he got a good ue and said while it will not play any up should put them in a really great hardly any player played and missed.
one that bounced. But what I liked role, the team should have it “at the frame of mind going ahead in this If he did anything, he got a nick. So,
immediately was the way he adapted. back of their mind” so that they are Test match because I think it’s a mas- it was not beating the bat. You know,
He went for the back in the crease to cautious. He said things can happen sive opportunity for India to tighten the bowlers’ [being] unlucky ... it was
counter the bounce, six inches so that quickly with pink ball. the screws further. The pressure will just the batsmen being unlucky on
it gave him a little more time and ba- When India last played a Test be on Australia,” the former Indian that day,” Shastri said.

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