After a disappointing outing within the first match, India skipper Virat Kohli performed a affected person captain`s innings of 73 not out (off 49 balls) as younger power-hitters Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant went after the bowling to assist India bounce again within the five-match collection with a seven-wicket win over England in second T20I right here.
Kohli was dismissed early, for a duck within the first match on Friday, as he tried to tackle the England bowling early. However, he modified his sport on Sunday (March 14) and was extra cautious in his method earlier than opening up.
“I had to shift the focus back to the basics. I’ve always taken pride in doing the job for the team. So more happy about that than scoring 70-odd. Kept my eye on the ball. The management spoke to me about things,” mentioned Kohli after the match earlier than crediting his knock to a bit of advice from South African batsman and his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers.
“I had a special chat with AB de Villiers before this game and he told me just to watch the ball. So I did,” added Kohli.
The India skipper was effusive in his reward of India’s bowlers in addition to Kishan, who made a blistering 32-ball 56.
“It was quite a good game for us. I think we ticked all the boxes. Especially, in the first innings, with the ball. To give away only 34 (35) in the last five (overs), it was very smart bowling. Washy (Washington Sundar) had only one left-hander to bowl to and he used the big boundary to the right-handers better,” added Kohli.
“Special mention to Ishan. I tried to do what I could but he just took the game away from the opposition. Quality innings on debut. We`ve seen him hit international fast bowlers for big sixes (in Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians). He knew he was hitting the ball well but he was calculated, not reckless. Today that counter-attacking innings of his and our partnership was something the team needed,” mentioned Kohli.
The India No. 3 mentioned that the pitch was a bit higher to bat within the second innings because the ball was gripping much less. But he additionally felt that England bowled a bit too brief.
“It did get a bit better to bat in the second innings. The ball gripped a bit less. Having said that, they bowled too short — it is probably not on, (especially) on that surface,” he added.
He additionally praised Hardik Pandya for returning to bowling. “Credit to Hardik that he is bowling at least three overs for us in every game. And for the next 6-8 months period, he has promised he is going to commit everything to being the all-rounder the team needs in all three formats… these kind of players are priceless.”
