KING KOHLI TO RESCUE

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue – Centurion Park, Centurion [December 26-29, 2023].

November 26, 2025, will go down as the darkest day for Indian cricket. The reason being we suffered yet another whitewash at home, this time at the hands of the South Africans. However, unlike last year, wherein we gave a strong fight against the Kiwis, this time we just crumbled before the Proteas. 408 runs defeat is a huge margin, and this is definitely going to haunt Indian cricket for long. However, the most unfortunate part was that none of our batsmen were able to score big in a condition wherein the South African batsmen piled up a heap of runs.

But this was not always the case. In the good old days, our batsmen not only scored runs at home but also abroad, and that too in the toughest of conditions. The man who led the pack was none other than King Kohli, who established himself as the backbone of Indian batting. Though Virat Kohli has scored 82 international hundreds, such is his class that even his fifties are remembered by fans all over the world.

One such half-century of his came in Centurion in December 2023, wherein he scored a quickfire 76 off 82 balls amidst seaming conditions. Interestingly, Kohli not just defended the unplayable deliveries but also played his shots. Moreover, the shots he played were truly spectacular. It was a pure masterclass from King Kohli, who looked in his vintage touch.

Unfortunately, Team India in that very innings were bowled out for 131 runs and lost the game by an innings and 32 runs. Interestingly if we remove the innings of Kohli, we will find that the entire team scored just 55 runs. So Kohli rightly saved us from the humiliation of getting bowled out under 100. Yes. We lost the game, but the innings is still cherished by every cricket fan. Afterall, it was one of the finest knocks played under pressure.

Moreover, Kohli continued his form in the next test as well, where he played another gritty knock. Eventually Kohli ended the series as India's highest run getter with a total of 172 runs in 4 innings at an average of 44. Mind you, South Africa is a place which is considered the toughest place to bat, and in that very condition, Kohli averages 49.50. Such has been the greatness of King Kohli.

To be honest, it is going to be tough to find a replacement for Virat Kohli, but we can only hope that the team will rise from the depths of despair. We need to have players who can keep themselves calm in the toughest of situations.

To watch the innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here. 

A NORMAL DAY AT WORK

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue – Eden Gardens, Kolkata [November 16-20, 2017].

In the winter of 2017, the Sri Lankan cricket team toured India to play 3 test matches, 3 ODIs and 3 T20 internationals. It is pertinent to note that the Lankans were badly whitewashed by Indians a couple of months ago in their own backyard. As a result, they were fired up to avenge the defeat. The first test of the series took place in the City of Joy – Kolkata. Unfortunately, the match got interrupted by multiple rain breaks. However, even in the limited time, the game was nothing short of thrill and entertainment.

Sri Lankan Captain Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and decided to field first. The decision turned out to be a masterstroke, as the hosts were bundled out for just 172 runs in their first innings. To everyone's surprise, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli was dismissed for a duck. After all, he was in the form of his life. Something which no one could imagine. Except for Pujara, no Indian batsman was able to cross the 50-run mark. For visitors, Suranga Lakmal was the leading wicket taker, as he picked up 4 wickets for just 26 runs. 

In response, the visitors scored 294 runs in their first innings, which looked like a decent score on the spicy Kolkata wicket. The hosts were now supposed to bat sensibly on Day 5 so that they could save the test. However, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. Captain Kohli led from the front as he scored a quickfire 104* off just 119 deliveries. It was simply one of the best test knocks played in an extremely tense situation. Not only did Kohli rescue his team, but he also played his shots when required. It was indeed a masterclass by the King himself. The failure of the first innings was well and truly buried. Apart from Kohli, Rahul and Dhawan also scored important half-centuries, as Sri Lankans were now required to score 231 runs to win the test as Indians declared a competitive score of 352/8. 

It was almost certain that the target could not be chased, and the visitors just needed to survive the final session. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced a sensational spell which sparked life in a lifeless game. It was quite lucky on the part of the visitors that the game could go on for just 26.3 overs. The match finally ended in a draw as the Sri Lankan scorecard read 75/7.

It was indeed a normal day at work, as the visiting team was fighting for their survival instead of securing a win.

Good old days when we used to dominate at home. 

To watch the Innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here. 

THE DAY CRICKET STOOD STILL

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue – The Oval, London [September 8-12, 2022].

In the previous post we talked about what happened in the Manchester test. In this post we will be talking about the final chapter of the 2022 England-South Africa Test Series. After the match got over in Manchester, both the teams headed back to the capital for the series decider. However, due to massive rain, no play was possible on the first day of the third test match.

Unfortunately, the same night, Queen Elizabeth breathed her last. The passing of the Queen was grieved by everyone, as the country stood still. Everything came to a halt the next day, including the Test Match. Eventually, on the third day of the test match, both the teams assembled in the Oval and paid tribute to the late Queen, who was not just a constitutional head of state but was also an ardent cricket fan.

In a must-win game, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first. The pitch was a bowler's paradise as the English pace attack blew away the Proteas batting line-up for 118 runs in just 36.2 overs. However, the Proteas too made use of the pitch, as they too bowled out England in exactly 36.2 overs for just 158 runs.

To be honest, it was less of a contest between bat and ball and more of a contest between the pacers of two sides. The carnage continued the next day as well, as the English once again rattled the Proteas batting line-up for just 169 runs in the second innings. The English now required 130 runs to win the test and the series.

Looking at what has happened in the last couple of days, it seemed 130 won't be an easy target to chase. However, Zak Crawley came all guns blazing as the hosts chased down 130 runs in just 22.3 overs. Crawley scored a quickfire 69* off 57 deliveries as the English won the game by 9 wickets on the morning of the fifth day.

Captain Stokes was awarded the Player of the Series Award as the hosts came from behind and won the Test Series 2-1.

To watch the highlights of this test, click on the URLs below.

Day 3.

Day 4.

Day 5. 

CAPTAIN STOKES TO THE RESCUE

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue – Old Trafford, Manchester [August 25-29, 2022].

In the summer of 2022, the South African cricket team toured England to play 3 ODIs, 3 T20s and 3 Test matches. The ODI Series ended in a 1-1 draw, whereas the Proteas won the T20 Series 2-1. Moreover, the visitors also won the first test at Lord's, and when the teams reached Manchester for the second test, it was more of a do-or-die contest for the hosts. In a must-win game it was the South African captain, Dean Elgar, who won the toss, and he chose to bat first. 

The decision turned out to be a horrendous one, as the Proteas were bowled out for just 151 runs in their first innings. The duo of Broad and Anderson picked up 3 wickets each, as no South African batsman managed to get past even the 40-run mark.

In response the hosts were reeling at 147/5 when wicketkeeper batsman Ben Foakes joined Captain Stokes in the middle. The match was on a knife-edge. One more wicket and the Proteas would have got rid of the English tail in no time. But this is when Stokes played a captain's knock and took his team to a commanding position. Stokes, along with Foakes, stitched a partnership of 173 runs as he scored his first Test hundred as a captain. Interestingly, it was not a typical Ben Stokes knock, as it was slow and gritty. The captain faced a total of 163 deliveries for his 103-run knock. Moreover, in the process he hit 6 boundaries and 3 massive sixes. On the other end, Foakes too scored an incredible 113 of 217 deliveries as England declared at a total of 415/9. 

It was never going to be easy for the Proteas to get past the first-innings deficit of 264 runs. Moreover, the English bowlers made sure that there was no possibility of a comeback as they kept on picking wickets at regular intervals. The Proteas crumbled for just 179 runs in their second innings, thus handing the hosts a victory by an innings and 85 runs.  

Captain Stokes was awarded the Man of the Match for his all-round performance, as he scored a hundred with a bat and also picked up 4 wickets with the ball. The series was 1-1 as the teams now headed back to London for the final showdown.

 

To watch the Innings of Ben Stokes, Click Here.

To watch the Innings of Ben Foakes, Click Here.