The Two Young Spinners Showed a Lot of Character

Team India continued their exceptional show in the Rainbow Nation and ended up winning the 6 match series by a 5-1 margin following their comprehensive 8 wickets victory in the 6th ODI at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The victory was yet again built around a sensational innings from their skipper Virat Kohli and some wonderful b0wling by the Indian pacers and the spinners. Kohli made it clear in the toss that they wanted to test themselves with an unfamiliar condition and hence decided to bowl first.

It was yet another convincing victory by the Men in Blue as they continued their winning run and sealed the series by a 5-1 margin. The victory was yet again built around the bowling effort by India and later on it was the Indian skipper who scored his 35^th ODI century to seal the deal for India. Kohli mentioned in the toss that they wanted to try themselves in trying circumstances and that as the reason behind their decision to field first.

Shardul Thakur who didn’t get the opportunity during the rest of the series but he made full use of the chance he got in the final ODI and returned with figures of 4/52 during his spell. He wasn’t at his best but still managed to bag 4 wickets which will surely give him enough confidence. For one more time, it was the bowlers who did the job for India as they restricted South Africa to a meager total of 204 runs.

For a brief period of time, it looked South Africa will take the game away from the hosts during the partnership of AB de Villiers and Khaya Zondo as both played some wonderful strokes. However, it was Yuzvendra Chahal who castled De Villiers was a faster trajectory delivery.

There was no way back for the Proteas as they kept losing wickets quite consistently which didn’t allowed them to go for the quick runs. Captain Virat Kohli who has been in sensational form smashed yet another century and yet again made batting look ridiculously easy.

Kohli smashes yet another century

Kohli remained unbeaten on 129 of just 96 deliveries which included 19 fours and a couple of sixes. He made batting look pretty easy and smashed the South African bowlers all around the park. The openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma yet again got them off to a brisk start and when Virat Kohli came in to the crease it was all over for India.

He was adjudged the Man of the Match and also the Man of the series for his sensational performance in the series so far. It is a historic moment for Team India to bag the series by a 5-1 margin especially in a country where they haven’t won a series across formats.

Team India skipper Virat Kohli expressed his delight in the post-match presentation and also credited his wife Anushka Sharma for his terrific knock.

This is what Kohli said at the post-match presentation

It was a day where I felt really good. Last game I wasn’t in the right mindset. Today I was feeling really good. Just decided to start timing the ball. Beautiful place to bat under lights. That was the whole idea of bowling first. They had to try something. I like setting up for the short ball as well. If I get into good positions, I feel like I can get boundaries off those short balls. It was a blessing to get so many short balls up front. They kept bowling short. In the day it was really slow. At night time the ball came on beautifully. It’s been a roller-coaster tour till now. People who contribute off the field, they deserve a lot of credit as well. My wife who keeps me motivated deserves a lot of credit. She’s been criticized a lot in the past. But she’s one person who’s kept me going throughout the tour. You want to lead from the front with your performances.

It’s a wonderful feeling. I got 8-9 years left in my career. I want to make the most of it. Want to train as hard as I can. It’s a blessing from God that I’m healthy. I’m getting to play for my country. I get to captain my country. It’s an honour. I just look at it that way. I just keep my head down so I can give 120% for the team. They’ve shown a lot of character. Especially those two young spinners. They deserve a lot of credit for the series win. They’ve been so brave and outstanding. They’ve come back from Johannesburg superbly. Really happy with the whole bunch. Three T20Is to go, tour is not over yet. The first two Tests we weren’t happy with ourselves. Couldn’t take the game to the opposition. Didn’t take a backward step since Johannesburg. I was here, having lost the series, and speaking to you. And now I’m here, having won the series, and speaking to you. Been a great turnaround. Boys can be proud of their efforts.