IND vs SA: Former South African Skipper Impressed By Virat Kohli's "Mental Application" in Cape Town

Indian skipper Virat Kohli started 2022 by playing one of his best Test knocks in recent times. He ground it out as he faced 01 balls to score 79 crucial runs. India were bowled out for 223 and it was Kohli’s knock that played a huge role in India getting there.

Former South African skipper Shaun Pollock was impressed by Virat Kohli’s mental application that he showed during his knock. Talking to Cricbuzz, Pollock lauded the Indian skipper and said that he came out to bat with a mindset to score the hard runs on a tough pitch in Cape Town.

“Mental application was the key to him. I think he came in with the mindset that, ‘I haven’t got a 100 in a while so I’m going to get stuck in here and try and get a big score and try to get to the three-figure mark.’ He was very, very watchful about what he did” said Pollock on Kohli.

The Indian skipper was 19 out of the first 80-odd balls he faced and eventually get to his fifty after facing nearly the double number of deliveries.

“It was the second-slowest fifty that he’s ever compiled. The slowest was off 170-odd balls, I think it was in Nagpur on a very slow surface. And the third-slowest was off 120 so it just shows on the scale where it fits in” Pollock added.

The former South African skipper also lauded Kohli for resisting his temptation to play balls outside off stump. He was determined to leave those balls and waited for the loose balls to cash in. Kohli’s knock had 12 fours and a six as he hit some trademark cover drives in the process.

Shaun Pollock Impressed By Virat Kohli’s Shot Selection

“I think also, the shot selection. He didn’t go after anything, was very conscious about waiting for the bad balls. There were a few half-volleys that were bowled to him and every time he got one of those, he put those away. It was a different Virat Kohli innings and I must say, I enjoyed it.”

After India were bowled out for 223, the hosts scored 17/1 in 8 overs as umpires called stumps on day 1 in Cape Town. They are still trailing by 206 runs with the Indian bowlers looking to make hard task of the remaining runs.

Also Read: IND vs SA: “Indian Batting Revolves Around Virat Kohli”-Childhood Coach Rajkumar Sharma