IND SA 3rd Test – Rabada vs Kohli Battle: The titanic battle between Kagiso Rabada and Virat Kohli was the highlight battle of the Day 1 of Capetown test. Kohli’s disciplined batting & Rabada’s classy display won everyone’s heart. Rabada himself declared at the end of Day’s play that he is extremely pleased to measure himself agains the champion batsman like Virat Kohli – Follow Capetown Test LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
“He’s a brilliant player. You want to measure yourself against the best players in the world,” Rabada said.
India vs SA LIVE: After Day’s play, Indian squad celebrates coach Rahul…
IND SA 3rd Test: Rabada hails battle against KING KOHLI, ‘happy to measure myself against the best’
Rabada vs Kohli Battle – Check what happened? After stepping to the crease at 33/2, Indian skipper Virat Kohli was probably regretting his decision to bat first on an overcast morning at Newlands. The Proteas bowling attack took advantage of the conditions as fast bowler Kagiso Rabada led the way with four for 73.
Kohli, who missed out on last week’s Wanderers Test, stood tall for the world number one side with a calculated half-century, bringing it up off 158 balls, his slowest 50 in his career.
The Indian skipper shared a 61-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara (43) before the latter edged behind to Kyle Verreynne off all-rounder Marco Jansen.
Things stabilised for India somewhat with a 51-run partnership between Kohli and Rishabh Pant (27) before the wicket-keeper fell to Jansen, who took three for 55 off his 18 overs.
Kohli was soon running out of partners but remained resilient, top-scoring with 79 off 201 balls (with 12 fours and a six).
However, Rabada had the final hurrah as Kohli was the ninth wicket to fall when he edged behind to Verreynne with India all out for 223 soon after.
“The plan was to bowl a good line and length. I was trying to get the ball to swing away and not really go for the pads. It was pretty obvious and that’s where he has been getting out,” Rabada told reporters.
“I think that’s why he was very patient in leaving balls and that’s why we tried to stick it.
“He batted extremely well and well done to him.”
Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour hailed Kohli’s phenomenal innings but believes that the visitors are 50 to 60 runs short.
India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour said he was impressed with Kohli but called out India’s poor batting.
- Kohli played his first cover drive after facing 16 deliveries.
- He had 89 dot balls in his innings.
- The Indian Test captain came into this game with the murmurs over his form growing louder – 652 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 26 in the last two years and no century.
“As a batting coach, I was never concerned (about his form). He was more disciplined today, he was really solid,” said Rathour after the day’s play.
“These are challenging conditions, not easy conditions to score runs in, but we are below par. We could have scored 50 to 60 more runs, that’s what we were at least expecting.
“The lesser the runs (they get), I hope it will be an equal innings and they won’t get a big lead.”
