All great players have that one knock or spell that truly defines them. An effort that resonates across generations.
Say Sharjah ‘Desert Storm’ 1998 and you know we are talking about Sachin Tendulkar’s epic 143 against Australia. Mike Gatting, first ball and 1993 Ashes mean only one thing – Shane Warne’s ball of the century. Brian Lara has a 400 to his name but no cricket fan can forget the unbeaten 153 he made against an Australian attack comprising of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne in the Barbados Test of 1999 to seal a one-wicket win chasing 308.
The 1999 Eden Gardens Test between India and Pakistan will forever be remembered as the match where Shoaib Akhtar embedded himself in the psyche of the cricketing world, shattering the stumps of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar off successive toe crushers bowled with the wrath of a hurricane. Dravid himself will forever be remembered for his 233 against the Aussies in the 2003 Adelaide Test that set up one of the most remarkable Test wins for India.
Virat Kohli has not yet reached that level, at least not in Test cricket. While his incredible conversion rate in Tests – 21 centuries and 15 fifties – puts him in a league of his own, his tally of 5,454 is still some way away from the 10,000-run mark. But there is no doubt Kohli will finish his career as an all-time great. And when he does enter that club, he will most probably look back at the 153 against the Proteas at Centurion as the moment that defined him as a batsman and captain.
Quite simply, one of the best innings I have seen from Kohli.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 15, 2018
For Kohli, 2018 is the year that will show whether India truly deserve their No1 status in Tests. Having lost the first match in Cape Town, the Indian team attracted a lot of derision with their poor record outside Asia put back in the spotlight. Centurion was make or break for Kohli and India.
Let’s get one thing clear. It wasn’t the most challenging pitch. In fact, conditions were more Chennai than Centurion with the wicket offering sharp turn and the ball beginning to keep low by the third day. But given the match situation, it is arguably his most important.
Kohli’s 141 against Australia in the 2013 Adelaide Test at the beginning of his captaincy stint was arguably the better knock because it came in the fourth innings as the Indians made a valiant effort while chasing 364 and fell 48 short. That knock epitomised the kind of cricket Kohli expects the Indians to play – aggressive and always going for victory.
Kohli has looked head and shoulders above the rest in this series....and that includes batsmen from both sides. Hardly a shot in the air...lots of singles. High strike-rate. Modern Master. #RunMachine #SAvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 15, 2018
But Centurion had a lot more riding on it. The middle session of the third day was where the series could have gone to South Africa or remained up for grabs. India started the day at 183-5 and well behind South Africa’s 335. After Hardik Pandya ran himself out with the total on 209, it was all down to Kohli to keep India in the race.
Batting with the tail needs finesse and Kohli didn’t lose his shape or composure with the match, series and possibly the rest of the season that includes tours to England and Australia on the line.
The way he cajoled Ishant Sharma to fight it out for 20 balls while taking the total past 300 after the Proteas had taken the second new ball and dismissed Ravi Ashwin and Mohammed Shami was a fine example of a master at work. With the stump mic on full volume, fans who can understand Hindi were treated to a glimpse into the mind of a champion batsman asking his lower order team-mate whether he is comfortable facing the quicks and farming the strike accordingly.
Without Kohli, India would have been out of the Test and the series. But the Delhi batsman has ensured India live to fight another day by scoring half of the team’s total. If India do end up having a successful 2018, we will know where it all began.
