IND vs SA: Virat Kohli Prepares For 'Nandre Burger' Challenge; Shreyas Iyer Faces Short Balls - Reports

Indian batter Virat Kohli is leaving no stone unturned in preparing himself for the second Test against South Africa. As per the reports in the PTI, it is learned that the batter was engaged in an intense training session to tackle the challenge of Nandre Burger. 

Nandre Burger troubled Indian batters a lot in the first Test in Cape Town and picked up four wickets in the second innings. Virat Kohli played in the nets to a bowler similar to Burger and was seen putting hard yards in the session, which lasted over an hour on New Year’s Day. 

The reports suggested that Virat Kohli started the session with facing bowlers in the central nets. After that, he batted against high-intensity throw-downs at the outside nets. The batter’s main focus was taking on the left-arm bowlers, which South Africa has two in Marco Jansen and Burger. 

Virat Kohli then batted against a net bowler from South Africa and the reports also suggested that he also faced Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Avesh Khan in the nets. 

It is learned that Virat Kohli looked in great touch and played regularly taking a stride forward. He was seen coming down the track to bowlers and playing the shots towards the mid-wicket area. The net bowler provided by CSA was comparatively slow to Nandre Burger and it allowed the batter to read the inswing. 

Virat Kohli was undergoing match simulations as well. However, during that, the batter wasn’t allowed to come on the front foot. The right-hander, however, hit a sensational six against Ravichandran Ashwin and played Jasprit Bumrah with class. 

Virat Kohli was in a stupendous touch in the first match. He played a handy knock in the first innings and scored 38 runs. His best came in the second innings when he played a sensational knock for his team and was the lone warrior for the side. He scored 76 runs and played some majestic strokes. 

IND vs SA: Apart From Virat Kohli’s Intensified Net Session, Shreyas Iyer Faces Short Balls

Apart from Virat Kohli’s intensified session, the spotlight was on Shreyas Iyer. The batter was seen facing a lot of short balls. The batter has had his troubles against the short-pitched ball. He was tested a lot in the first game against the fiery South Africa pacers. 

Shreyas Iyer played a decent innings of 31 runs in the first innings in Centurion but couldn’t get going in the second innings. In the net session, he was seen playing left-arm pacer from 18 yards and was hit on the stomach. He struggled against the short ball in the nets as well. 

Shreyas Iyer will have to play a crucial role for the team in the next game. The batter will hold the key for India in the Cape Town Test. India would be looking to make a strong comeback after suffering an innings and 32-run loss in the first game. They would be eager to draw the series.

According to the same report, the pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who faced a massive injury scare earlier, participated in the session as a batter and he looked comfortable.