IND vs SA: "Virat Kohli Wasn't Batting Like Virat Kohli..."- Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has said that Virat Kohli has appeared to be his usual self in the ongoing two-match Test series against South Africa. The former India skipper is currently India’s highest run-scorer in the series. In 3 innings, he has scored an impressive 160 runs at an average of more than 53. Virat Kohli began the series with a knock of 38 runs in the first innings of the first Test in Centurion before playing a valiant knock of 76 runs in the second innings.

He waged a lone battle in the second innings but could not avoid an innings defeat for India at the SuperSport Park. The right-handed batsman was the last wicket to fall as South Africa thrashed the visitors by an innings and 32 runs inside three days. In the ongoing second Test at Newlands, Virat Kohli top-scored for India once again in the first innings. He was the only player to cross the 40-run mark and scored 46 as India were bowled out for 153 runs.

Sanjay Manjrekar praises Virat Kohli:

With Virat Kohli doing well in the series against South Africa, Sanjay Manjrekar recalled his performance during the 2021/22 Test tour of South Africa and praised him for bouncing back.

“That is Virat Kohli being Virat Kohli. And I think the last tour to South Africa Virat Kohli was not batting like Virat Kohli. But, I mean, just imagine he ended the series with the strike rate of 34 which is, you know, so there was a lot going on in his mind. In this series, he’s looked good, he looked decisive. So this is Virat Kohli being Virat Kohli, just clearer in mind,” Sanjay Manjrekar said on Star Sports after the first day’s play.

After the series in the 2021/22 season against South Africa, Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Test team. Just before the series, he was also removed as the T20I and ODI captain of the team. Talking about the ongoing game, India were bowled out for 153 runs in their first innings in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 55.