2nd Test: Virat Kohli not at his fluent best but did what the team needed: Ajit Agarkar
Former Indian fast bowler Ajit Agarkar said on Thursday that it is good to see Virat Kohli showing character and fighting hard for runs, even when he is not at his best in international cricket.
The India skipper came up with a hard-fought 42 on Day 1of the 2nd Test in challenging conditions at Lord’s against England.
After getting out on a golden duck in the series opener in Nottingham to James Anderson, Virat Kohli showed more discipline and played compactly to hang around with KL Rahul after India lost Cheteshwar Pujara early following a 126-run opening stand. England pacers were looking to put pressure on Kohli but the skipper remained calm and got the scoreboard moving despite not looking at his fluent best.
Kohli, who has not hit an international hundred since 2019, stitched a 117-run stand for the 3rd wicket with KL Rahul who went on to score his maiden hundred at Lord’s. India ended Day 1 of the 2nd Test at 276 for 3 after losing captain Kohli towards the end of the day’s play.
It was not James Anderson but Ollie Robinson picked up Kohli’s wicket with a full-length outswinger which the India captain edged to Joe Root at slips
“That’s what great players do (fight hard when they are not in form). Even great players have to do that,” Agarkar told Sony Sports after the end of Thursday’s play at Lord’s.
“I don’t quite know whether he is in bad form because there hasn’t been a lot of Test cricket for him in the recent past. He played only one Test in Australia. Against England at home, he wasn’t at his best. Still searching for a hundred for a while but he did what the team needed.
“Unfortunately, for India, he nicked one towards the end. He was not at his fluent best but still got a partnership going,” Agarkar added.
‘He is looking comfortable’
Kohli has gone past the 50-run mark only on three occasions in 10 Tests since his last hundred in the day-night Test against Bangladesh but the skipper has looked in good shape, according to former India batsman Ajay Jadeja.
“We are talking about a man who got 40-odd runs today and still not enough for him because that’t the standards he has set for us. Over the years, we got used to it. Rarely in the past, he has gone past 20-30s and didn’t end up with a big score. But that has not been happening in the recent past. But he is looking comfortable, solid,” Jadeja said.
KL Rahul (127) and Ajinkya Rahane (1) will resume India’s batting on Day 2 of the Lord’s Test. With the first Test ending in a draw after rain in Nottingham, both teams will be looking to go in front with a strong show in the ongoing match at the iconic venue.
