ENG v IND 2018: Shoaib Akhtar Congratulates Virat Kohli on a Stupendous Knock

It was a special knock from the blade of India skipper Virat Kohli which helped India claw their way back into the opening Test of the five-match Test series against England.

Virat went on to smash a superb 149 off 225 deliveries. It helped India come within touching distance of the England 1^st innings total. After a horrendous tour of England in 2014, there were huge speculations over his temperament and preparations for the England series.

After just one inning, Virat Kohli has surpassed the total tally of runs which he scored over the course of ten innings during the 2014 series. It was an innings which had class written all over it. He smashed 22 fours and a six during his knock of 149.

Replying to England’s 287 in the 1^st innings, it was a Virat Kohli’s masterclass which helped India force their way back into the match after a stutter in the middle overs.

Earlier, it was Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay who shared a 50-run opening stand to get India off to a solid start. However, the visitors lost three wickets pretty quickly which reduced them to 59/3. Later, it was Ben Stokes who then relegated India to 100/5.

They could have been 100/7 had the hosts taken the back to back opportunities of Virat and Hardik Pandya.

Virat Kohli makes full use of his dropped chances

Kohli got dropped twice, and he made full use of those opportunities. He went on to bat exceptionally well with guys like Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.

Virat shared a more than 50 runs stand with Umesh for the final wicket which helped India score 274 in their 1^st essay.

However, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar congratulated the Indian skipper on a sensational inning. He further hailed him for scoring with intensity with the lower-order.

“What a century @imVkohli!!! The last time he went to England he failed miserably, but this time he has improved so much shows what an amazing player he is and also his dedication and determination. He proved everyone wrong on this tour,” he further wrote.

What a century @imVkohli!!!
The last time he went to England he failed miserably, but this time he has improved so much shows what an amazing player he is and also his dedication and determination.He proved every one wrong on this tour!!#viratkohli #ENGvsIND

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 3, 2018

“Virat quality of batting amazes me that he has the ability to score runs with lower order @ the same strike rate with top order which is incredible…I think Virat Kohli is the benchmark for world batsman’s to follow,” he wrote.

Virat quality of batting amazes me that he has the ability to score runs with lower order @ the same strike rate with top order which is incredible…I think virat kohli is the benchmark for world batsman’s to follow ..

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 3, 2018

Virat quality of batting amazes me that he has the ability to score runs with lower order @ the same strike rate with top order which is incredible…I think virat kohli is the benchmark for world batsman’s to follow ..

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 3, 2018