The whole India (or rather I say the cricket World) were in awe to see Virat Kohli hitting cover drives, signalling a return of his former self. The Indian captain scored a well made 79 runs, guiding India to put 223 runs in the board.
With the series on level field after a win each for both India and South Africa in the previous two matches, the third Test match makes a lot of sense with the winning will also win the series.
However, heading to the match, the Indian fans were in lot of thoughts as the Indian skipper Virat Kohli has failed to perform to his best, for nearly the last 2 years.
But there is a say that “form is temporary, class is permanent”, and that’s what we all witnessed from probably the one of the best batsman in cricket’s long history.
Virat Kohli fought hard throughout the match, with initial focus on playing as much balls possible to set himself. At one stage, he had scored only 16 runs from almost 75 balls. But, then after, he showed a class, the fans witnessed a vintage Virat Kohli, hitting those cover drives that were so pleasant to eyes.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep himself going as he crushed under the pile of pressure being put on him with no one being able to stand along with him on the pitch.
Kohli was the second last man to be dismissed, since coming in at number 4 on just the 13th over of the match with both the opener dismissed very cheaply. Fans expected Virat to score that most awaited century that we all last saw way back in 2019.
However, with no one really able to spend at least half-an-hour along with him, the pressure piled up and Virat fell pray to it. Team India were dismissed for 223 runs. But, Bumrah did made sure that last match’s hero and South Africa’s captain Dean Elgar was packed before the end of Day 1’s play.
The Proteas ended the day’s play with 17 runs on the board for the loss of that only wicket, and trail India by 206 runs.
But, seeing Virat Kohli returning back to his former self was great, and those cover drives of his.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Virat Kohli returning back to form
A cover drive genius – Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/f61D4aZVOa
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 11, 2022
One cover drive of Virat Kohli and whole twitter went crazy.
— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) January 11, 2022
Kohli’s cover drive arrived at Cape Town 😍 pic.twitter.com/HqTZjz8spK
— 𝙋 🇮🇹 (@Pran33Th__18) January 11, 2022
” and that’s how 2022 started for VIRAT KOHLI ” #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/FrWRb2m4XP
— 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧. (@imnotVkohli) January 11, 2022
Kohli and his Cover Drives🥵🙇🏻♂️👑
— Manoj Maddy Edits (@edits_manoj) January 11, 2022
Pure Delight to Watch😍
pic.twitter.com/bMUcQ53daD
Never seen Kohli giving such emotional expressions 💔 pic.twitter.com/xBhot2eZ4f
— 👶🏻 (@Princetarun_18) January 11, 2022
