SA vs IND 2018: Entire Credit Should Go To The Leader Virat Kohli, Says Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri’s tenure is fast shaping up into one which no other Indian coach in the past had enjoyed. After seeing off a highly successful season in subcontinental conditions, Shastri guided the team to a historic series win in South Africa. It was a feat that not a single coach or Indian team had achieved in the past.

On Friday (February 16), India thrashed the Proteas by 8 wickets to win the series 5-1. The architect of the win was once again the bowlers and the ever-dependable Virat Kohli. The bowlers fully justified the team’s call to bowl first by dismissing the hosts for a modest 204. Kohli then led from the front, playing an unbeaten knock of 129 to help his side chase down the total with ease.

Speaking after the game, Shastri lauded his side’s ability to bounce back from a Test series loss to win the ODIs in style. India’s nine-series winning run had ended at Centurion but they have not looked back since then. They finished the Test series with a consolation win in Johannesburg before claiming the ODIs. Shastri also singled out Kohli for leading the team from the front.

“That’s the beauty about this team on this trip where I feel proud as a coach about my boys is the intensity they showed. Even after being two-zip down in the Test series, for them to show that kind of character to come back and win that Test match in Johannesburg on a spiteful pitch. And to then take that momentum into the one-day series and show the consistency they’ve shown over the last two weeks is fabulous. Entire credit should go to the leader. Because he’s led from the front, first with his batting and then as I said with his intensity, which makes other people in the team also up the ante,” Shastri said.

Kohli scored a record 558 runs in the series with the help of three centuries. The runs came at an average of scarcely believable 186.

One of the reasons  behind India’s success was the stunning performance of spin twins, Kuldeep Yadav (17 wickets at 13.88) and Yuzvendra Chahal (16 wickets at 16.38). The spinners completely choked the hosts during the middle-overs which never allowed them to get the impetus.

“I think even in my last stint, Virat and me have always discussed that we need wickets in the middle overs,” Shastri said. “You know we’ve got to somehow be able to attack and find ways of breaking partnerships and not allowing the game to drift. So that was the idea. And then identifying the right kind of people to do the job. Luckily for us, Kuldeep and Chahal have complemented each other beautifully. They bring great variety – it’s great for the viewer, it’s great for the spectator to see that kind of variety when they come to watch a cricket match. Not just batting or fielding, but some classic spin bowling.

Shastri concluded by hailing the series win again and advised the players to cherish the win.

“One thing history tells me, I have been coming here since 1992, there is not one South African side in the world that anyone can say is a weak side. You just look at their bilateral record and they are one of the great sides in bilateral cricket. I have followed this game for a long time. I have been a broadcaster as well and covered a lot of South Africa games and I know how they play. So I would like my boys to enjoy every bit of this series win. Whatever the scoreline is they must enjoy because it doesn’t happen every day,” he said.

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