SA vs IND 2018: Yet Another Pleasing Day for Us - Virat Kohli

The Men in Blue continued their exceptional run in the ODI series against the Proteas and courtesy a sensational 124 runs victory in the 3rd ODI at the Newlands in Cape Town; the visitors almost created history in the rainbow nation after winning the 3^rd ODI on a trot.

Once again it was Indian skipper Virat Kohli who continued his rich vein of form and remained unbeaten on a sensational 160, as he smashed the South African bowlers all around Newlands.

The skipper remained unbeaten on 16 while opener Shikhar Dhawan scored a well constructed 76 which was studded with 12 hits to the fence. Kohli was in great touch and continued from where he left in a previous couple of matches.

Dhawan and the skipper shared a sensational partnership which made life difficult for the hosts.

Kohli has made batting look pretty easy on this tour so far and has almost single-handedly helped his team win the four matches on this tour so far, and their wrist spinners have been brilliant as well.

It was Proteas skipper Aiden Markram who won the toss and opted to field first. Hardik Pandya was promoted up the order but he was dismissed pretty early and couldn’t quite continue the innings which he was expected for.

Once again it was the Indian wrist spinners who spun a web around the Proteas batters, as they were left searching for answers. Kuldeep and Chahal for one more time shared eight wickets between them and had taken their tally to 21 wickets together in the ODI series so far. In the end, India eventually managed to romp through a comprehensive victory by 124 runs which is their largest victory in terms of runs in ODI cricket in the Rainbow nation.

It is what captain Virat Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony

“Well, (the tour) did not start off that well. I knew I had to come in and get stuck in for us to give ourselves a good chance. I take that kind of mentality into every game. Another pleasing day, individually and as a team as well. I think the pitch started with good pace and bounce. After the 30-over mark, it was a drastic change. We immediately cut down our target from 320-330 to 280-290 and ended up with 300-plus. The wicket got slower with the old ball. You had to get adjusted to the pace of the wicket. It got slower as the game progressed. If you lead from the front, it feels even better. Another outstanding partnership with Shikhar. He played outstandingly well. Few runs with MS and a good partnership with Bhuvi, in the end, helped us.”

“I was struggling a bit while on 95 but I knew I had to carry on and pull the team out. These are times when you are tested and it is pleasing to go through it and do well. This wicket was not supposed to help the wrist spinners. These two got the maximum out of it. These two back themselves. Today it was outstanding from them as they picked 8 wickets between them. We wanted to bat first and change things a bit. I think our intensity (for the next game) should be more than the previous games. We would try and close the door on them. Having an opportunity, we would take the confidence into the fourth game.”