India vs Australia - Virat Kohli's date with Chennai

The first Test is exactly at the half way mark as I write this article. I am one of the fans who woke up early and switched on the TV set even before the channel went live. I was anxious and fidgety as I awaited the master’s arrival to the crease. The Chennai stadium was jam-packed and the entire hullabaloo was about the elusive century.

The time was up and Sachin walked out along with Virat Kohli. The emotions of the fans could be compared to that of the second half of a thriller movie. The first half was done and dusted as he had crossed the half-century mark the previous evening. The expectations were sky-high as it might be the final time that Sachin graced Chepauk. His love for the ground could be compiled in sagas that the cricketing bards would love singing for the rest of the eternity. A die-hard cricket fan from Chennai would reminisce the day when Sachin demolished Pakistan almost single-handedly, getting the team painstakingly close to victory despite severe bouts of back spasms.

Virat Kohli started off in a sedate fashion. He was a picture of serenity as he rotated the strike comfortably. Sachin Tendulkar, on the other hand, was determined to prove his critics wrong. He was solid as he drove a fuller length delivery off Siddle to open his account for the day. India were assured as two of their best players were in the middle and the manner in which they went about setting themselves up suggested that India would probably have a good day on the field.

Sachin was the focal point as he was expected to finally reach that Test century which had eluded him since January 2011. But it was not to be. He was foxed by a Nathan Lyon delivery which spun big off the footmarks and kissed the inside edge on its way to clipping the leg stump, much to the extreme disappointment of the spectators who made their way to the ground just to witness the master. But they were not let down as the touted ‘successor’ to the master fulfilled their desire a couple of hours later.

Virat Kohli was the epitome of elegance as he took the challenge head-on. India was in a precarious position after the loss of Sachin. Kohli knew that he had to carry on if India were to have the upper hand. The best part of his innings was the amount of ease at which he was constructing his innings. The drives were smooth, the cuts and pulls were executed to perfection and the defence would have definitely made Rahul Dravid proud.

Kohli walked out to bat when Pujara fell for 44 runs on Day 2. Sachin was quite composed at the crease and all Kohli had to do was to lend company to the master, regularly rotating the strike. Kohli was right behind the ball throughout the innings and he displaced the pressure from Sachin’s shoulders. He calmly reached his half-century from 80 deliveries, knowing the tough task still lying ahead. It was a vital knock for him as he was put under the sword by the critics prior to this series. His form was criticized and his technique against genuine swing bowling was questioned. He had to endure the taunts about his short-comings ever since the England debacle.

It was impossible to budge him as he flowed like a holy river. The opponents knew that Kohli had won the battle and as he treated them to some graceful stroke-making. He carried on, wanting to make this innings count. He was joined by the skipper after the departure of Sachin and was content with playing second fiddle as Dhoni cut loose.

Whenever you watch Kohli bat, you can feel the sense of surety and the understanding of the situation on his face as he sets himself up. He is a keen analyser and his credentials as a finisher in the shorter formats are second to none. Even as his fellow teammate from Delhi was struggling to find his feet earlier in the innings, Kohli show no inhibitions in playing the shots, batting the way he knows best. He resisted the impulse of matching Dhoni shot for shot as he was belting the bowlers all round the park.

Kohli punished the opposition as he reminded us of his maiden ton in hostile conditions in Australia. He respected the balls as he patiently left the good ones and waited for the loose deliveries. The Australians were at a loss against Kohli’s technical brilliance. He marched his way into the nineties without a fuss. He was seldom nervous through his essay and he confidently flicked his way to reach his fourth Test century.

The celebrations were subdued and ‘un-kohli-ish’ as the extravagant show of emotions on the achievement was completely missing. He closed his eyes and thanked the Gods for his bestowing him with the ability to come up with a face-saving knock. It was a scintillating knock to be precise and the one which nestled the match in India’s arms.

Kohli looked good for more before he faltered after making 107 off 206 balls. He could have carried on, but for a lapse in concentration. Nathan Lyon must be an extremely satisfied man as he had the honour of bagging the wickets of both Sachin and Kohli in his kitty. Though he might have gotten out, Kohli has announced his comeback in style. Knowing Kohli, he’d love to carry on in the same fashion for the rest of the series.

Dhoni picked the cue from Kohli later on, as he brought his own double century in style. Dhoni would be a happy captain, realising that his best batsman has got back his form. It is a liberating thought for him and Team India as the battle of the “payback series” is being waged. The fans and the audiences who were eager to see the master in action would be fortunate as they had an ‘like-for-like’ replacement, viewing Kohli in his elements. He covered up the ‘great-master-disappointment’ in a masterly fashion. It was a reprieve for the Indians who looked out of sorts after the dismissal of Virender Sehwag.

Kohli would be raring to go in the second innings as well, even as Australia is in course of relinquishing their hold on the match, unable to get the better of Dhoni. Dhoni is striving on with the tail-enders as he reached his first double hundred. With Kohli and Dhoni demoralising the Aussies with their knocks today, the likeliness of India’s loss has decreased considerably, pushing Aussies on backfoot for the coming 2 days left in the 1st Test.