Second wind, an avalanche

Then Friday proved the India vice-captain absolutely correct.

As Kohli walked back after getting run out off the last ball, but not before making an authoritative 114-ball 127, even the last one of those who had crossed over to the dark side must have come around — making it a 360 degree arc, or the proverbial full circle. For both the man and his fairweather friends.

Kohli’s 18th ODI century, against New Zealand in Napier, had come in a losing cause. The next one came against Bangladesh. Then they stopped coming altogether. Nine months later, the 20th had ‘win’ written all over it as it guided the team to a massive 330/6 and, eventually, to a 59-run victory. The West Indian pull out meant, it also gave India the series with a 2-1 scoreline.

What must have made the hundred still more fulfilling was that it came at No.3, a place Kohli has come to own but one he had to relinquish in the last game in his pursuit of runs and self-confidence. In that sense too, it was sort of there and back again for the batsman — another 360 degree turn of events. However, it should be noted here that he came one down, in the 12th over, after the openers had shared a brisk 70-run stand.

In terms of overs his entry it was at a similar stage of the Delhi match, where he walked out in the 13th over. If it was done consciously, this has the making of an interesting strategy: sending Kohli in at either No.3 or 4, depending on match-situation. And the situation on Friday was at the perfect level of ripe for a No.3 eyeing a big score.

Ripping them to shreds

The West Indies were in complete disarray and India were batting first on a true track. Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane, after adopting a cautious approach early on, started taking the seemingly uninterested West Indian attack apart, bowler by bowler.

Dhawan warmed up with a six off the tall Jason Holder, before smacking four crisp boundaries off a Jerome Taylor over. Rahane targetted Andre Russell, and before long they had put up 50 runs on the board. Russell accounted for Dhawan, who top-edged a pull to deep midwicket to prematurely end a promising innings. The Australians must be taking notes.

Man of the hour

Kohli walked out to big applause. It’s not a Delhi-only thing clearly; he has become that one batsman people in India buy tickets to watch. With Rahane fluent at the other end after being put down in the deep off Russell — and the West Indies would drop many more — Kohli took his time, playing the hero’s friend were it a Bollywood college romance.

He curbed his natural aggression and kept giving the strike to Rahane, who raced away to a half century. The first 41 balls of his innings yielded just 24 runs. However, once Rahane fell to Sulieman Benn, Kohli assumed the central role. The next 73 balls would bring 103 runs and personal redemption.

Kohli pulled with authority and drove characteristically. With Suresh Raina, he forged a 138-run partnership in just 18 overs. There were some anxious moments in the nervous 90s, but catharsis came anti-climactically, a single off an over throw. Kohli raised his bat and helmet and looked skywards, mumbling something. There were no cuss words, it seemed more like a prayer. The Kohli of old was back, and he was back as a more mature Kohli.

In the event, India posted a target for the West Indies to chase. The visitors, even at their best, would have struggled to hunt it down. But this was a demoralised team – fighting at too many fronts at the same time. Nevertheless, Marlon Samuels, surely the finest batsman of this series, decided if he was going out, he would do so fighting, taking no prisoners along the way.

Samuels hammered six sixes on his way to stunning counterattacking century, his second of the series. And he did so against Himalayan odds, no less. What was his motivation? Money — but they are fighting for it off the field. Win – it was unlikely the way his teammates bowled and fielded. And clearly the series didn’t matter much for they were boycotting it.

Samuels is one inscrutable cricketer. And the West Indies are a remarkable team with their backs to the wall. It’s when they are ahead in a contest that they make a mess of it. Anyway, his approach was infectious as Russell too joined him and played an entertaining 23-ball 46, including the biggest hit of the match that landed on the pagoda-stand’s roof.

But it was the flickering of a dying flame. They had been amateurish during India’s innings in the afternoon, and it was there that they lost the match. Come to think of it: amateurish perhaps is an apt description here, for they claim they are getting paid pittance. Fair play to them then if they didn’t play like pros.

‘People expect runs from me everytime’

Express News Service
Dharamsala: It took a while, but finally the century came and with it Virat Kohli consigned his recent bad patch to the dustbin. Following India’s win against the West Indies in the fourth ODI, Kohli revealed in the press conference just how it felt to be back among runs. Excerpts:

On returning to form

The first run (I) scored in Delhi felt like my first run for India. The kind of cricket I’ve played in the last four-five years, I guess people expect runs from me everytime. I guess it’s all about clearing your mind and being positive and take my time and not rush into it.

On getting over the slump

Some time off helped to forget the bad phase. Hopefully I can build on it. It was more mental than physical, had to do a bit of alteration with the way I was setting up.

On batting with Raina

Had some memorable partnerships with (Suresh) Raina, starting from that 337-run chase in Hobart. The idea is me, him and MS (Dhoni) bat the team through in the middle order and hopefully we can take this form through to the World Cup and it will be lethal for us and dangerous for other teams.

On lessons learnt

Not being overexcited, trying to stay as calm as possible. And that’s what I learned in the last two months.