Team India Test skipper Virat Kohli looked his best in the last two years but couldn’t convert his fifty into a hundred after losing patience. Kohli began running out of partners at the other end and had to go for his shots which led to his downfall.
After opting to bat in overcast conditions, India once again faltered and was held up single-handedly by Kohli. He was assisted well by Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant but once the latter fell, it was only a matter of time before the batting order fell apart.
In a display of resilience and grit, Kohli played an excellent Test knock where he left most of the balls outside off alone. There were glimpses of the old self where he played sumptuous cover drives and straight drives. He looked destined to get to that elusive 71st century.
However, on a day when Kohli played his best, the batters let him down. Pant once again played a rash shot while the typically aggressive Shardul Thakur also fell in a bid to up the ante. With no reliable partners at the other end, Kohli went fishing for a delivery outside off after 200 deliveries at the crease.
Although he was dismissed for 79, it does signal a new and different Kohli who has a lot more patience and determination to leave balls on the 5th stump line. The way the 33-year-old played did increase the hopes of the fans, who hoped for a better 2022 compared to the previous years.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Virat Kohli’s knock:
#ViraatKohli may have missed a ton but those youngsters who watched this knock should have learned a lot more about batting. A classy knock. #INDvSA #SAvIndia #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/dmva4DOutJ
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) January 11, 2022
Indian innings summed up in a pic. Once again onus on bowlers to keep us in the game. #SAvIND #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/vsRasnJAy0
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 11, 2022
#Kohli deserved a ton after playing exceptionally well. 79 runs from 201 balls without hardly any support from the other end – this innings must rank among his best. #INDvsSA #SAvIND #ViratKohli #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/SvEc8TGmB9
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) January 11, 2022
That inning had Virat Kohli’s Class written all over it. #INDvSA
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 11, 2022
Has to be the most painful picture today..??#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/5dKVCzxpRC
— RCB Army Telugu™ (@RCBTeluguArmy) January 11, 2022
The Wait Still Continues ??(79) ??#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/Hom1LB8UMs
— RCB Army Telugu™ (@RCBTeluguArmy) January 11, 2022
He did everything right! Could see how he patiently got his eye in. And was putting in all the hard work to get a big one. 21 short but this was a great knock. Well bowled Rabada.#ViratKohli https://t.co/UEMlOIel3l
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) January 11, 2022
Once again king proved why he is the KING ? when the entire team fails – Captain played his brilliant knock ??#INDVSA#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ZLMfrdF15O
— KARTHIK DP (@dp_karthik) January 11, 2022
A classy and determined knock from Virat Kohli ❤️
Virat Kohli becomes the second highest leading run scorer for India in test in south africa..
Well played captain Kohli #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/RIowG3z8Mo— Anjali Sharma (@Anjali_vk_18) January 11, 2022
79 >> 100
Not a #Century but definitely a good start to 2022. A 100 is no doubt big but playing a knock when nobody else really supported is something he's known for.#KingKohli for a reason. #Virat #kohli #ViratKohli #INDvSA #Vamika pic.twitter.com/XvEYW56nSJ— A_s_78 (@a_imas78) January 11, 2022
Pic of the day ? #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/R0ypyQ6xSY
— Tamil Viratians ? (@Tamil_Viratians) January 11, 2022
Well played, Virat Kohli – a fighting knock – 79 runs from 201 balls when there was no support from other end – King lead from front for India. ???#ViratKohli #Century …….. pic.twitter.com/NVIEtkNP7c
— Sai Jadhav ?? (@sai_jadhav_007) January 11, 2022
Ajinkya Rahane gave a pat on Virat Kohli's back for a masterclass of a knock. pic.twitter.com/kqO6rBv8Rx
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 11, 2022
He doesn’t get the 100 but he has played superbly. Fantastic innings @imVkohli
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 11, 2022