India batting legend Virat Kohli once again displayed his reasons as to why he is one of the most consistent in ODI cricket even when India was in a losing cause against New Zealand. After the master of the bat, Kohli, scored 124 brilliant runs in the series finale at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, the all time great Sunil Gavaskar was immensely impressed by the attitude and flexible nature of approach that Kohli possesses, one that in his opinion, made him stand out among others.
Complimenting Virat Kohli on his masterclass, Gavaskar pointed out that the secret of the subsequent success of the Delhi batter is not only his technique, but also his absence of any pressure in terms of publicity and his attention to the requirements of the moment. Gavaskar analyzed the strategy of Kohli and how the veteran, depending on the conditions, alternates his style instead of maintaining a single one.
“The thing about him is that he’s not tied down to an image. A lot of batters and bowlers are constrained by how they’re perceived, and they feel they must live up to that image. Virat isn’t like that — he’s tied to the job at hand, and that job is to score runs,” Gavaskar told via JioStar.
“Sometimes that means starting watchfully and then opening out. Sometimes it means attacking early and then spreading the field and picking up ones and twos. He’s not governed by expectations of how he should play. That temperament is the key. He doesn’t think, ‘I’m expected to hit a six.’ He plays according to the situation. He never gives up. Even till the end, he was trying.”
Sunil Gavaskar
Another record-breaking night for Kohli
In a series decider against a big mark of 338, the right-hander demonstrated his real class, scoring his 54th ODI century, which included 10 fours and three huge sixes. Despite the fact that the Men in Blue lost, the 37-year-old smashed multiple records on his way to defeat. This was his 11th century against the Kiwis in all formats, more than anyone else in the game’s history.
Indore also marked the 35th location where the New Delhi native has made a century in white-ball cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, who had 49 ODI centuries in 34 different places.
