Stand-in captain stands out

In must-win match against the West Indies,Virat Kohli makes 83-ball 102 as India score 311/7

Such is the finesse and grace in almost every shot that Virat Kohli attempts that it8217;s always tough to add a 8216;brutal8217; tag to them. Even when he8217;s taking apart a bowling attack,and regardless of the vicious expressions that might appear on his face,aggression has seldom carried a more exquisite flavour.

It8217;s safe to say,however,that Kohli was brutal at the Queens Park Oval on Friday. While his shots as always were brought about by luscious timing and precision placement,there was a sense of viciousness about them. As if he meant to mock the West Indian bowling attack. He ended up producing one of his most aggressive centuries,lording over the hapless hosts. His 102-his first as ODI captain-also took India to a commanding score of 311/7 in their 50 overs in a must-win match. By the time the cloudy skies over Port-of-Spain opened up,resulting in heavy rain at the Oval,the West Indians had progressed to 56/2 in 10 overs.

Kohli had gotten out cheaply in the opening two matches. Both his dismissals had come about due to uncharacteristically uncertain strokes. You rarely associate indecision with Kohli8217;s batting. It was a more confident Kohli who walked out to bat against the West Indies this time.

It was a unique kind of pressure. This was the first time Kohli had walked into bat as captain of a team that had found itself in a do-or-die situation with everything to lose. Rather than bog him down,it proved to be the perfect incentive for him.

In the first match at the Sabina Park,the West Indians had come out with the perfect plan for Kohli,starting off by bowling full and outside off stump,tempting the right-hander to die by the sword. And after a few hits and misses,he had fallen into the trap and edged to slip.

At Queens Park Oval,the home team started off with a similar strategy. Then,out of the blue,probably taking a leaf out of the Sri Lankan book,they attempted to pepper Kohli with short-pitched deliveries. They almost tasted success as Kemar Roach rushed the Indian captain into a pull and caught him off-guard.

Kohli had hardly gotten a ball off the square till then,and was batting on just three. After having provided a solid base with a well-paced opening partnership,Shikhar Dhawan had just departed for 69. On a pitch that was proving to be far more batting-friendly,India needed a lot more runs. The Roach bouncer proved a wake-up call for Kohli.

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There are few shots that Kohli doesn8217;t play. But there8217;s a touch of artistry when he pulls off his trademark back-foot punch through extra cover while standing on tiptoe. It has to be right up there with a Sachin Tendulkar straight drive or a VVS Laxman flick through midwicket.

When Roach pitched a delivery on a length just outside off stump in his next over,Kohli was ready with his response. The boundary broke open the shackles. And from there on,the Indian captain held the reins of the contest. Wickets continued to fall at the other end,but Kohli continued unperturbed.

His supple wrists were in action next as he flicked Marlon Samuels8217; loopy offering through midwicket. The West Indian pacers stuck to their tactic of trying to bounce Kohli out. And he was up to their challenge,standing tall and swatting the rising deliveries in an arc between square leg and long leg. He moved closer to his half-century with a delectable square-drive. While he took 55 balls to reach his half-century,his next 50 took only 25 balls as Kohli tore into the West Indians.

The hosts refused to relent from their bouncer fest,and Kohli kept picking them off,pulling Kieron Pollard over long on for six. By the time Roach decided to look for the block-hole,Kohli was waiting for him,and smacked the full toss through the off side for his 13th four before celebrating his 14th ODI ton with his usual flourish.