"He came out not like a cat on a hot tin roof" - Ravi Shastri points out Virat Kohli's biggest plus point from his ton in BGT 2024/25 1st Test
Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has decoded Virat Kohli's classy ton in the second innings of the opening Test against Australia in Perth. Shastri stated that he was impressed with Kohli's composure at the crease and the way he made his way out to the middle.
The 36-year-old had struggled for runs ahead of the series Down Under and managed only one half-century in the previous three-match series against New Zealand. After perishing for a single-figure score in the first innings in Perth, the veteran took leverage of some relatively benign conditions for his 30th ton in the second innings.
Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review, the 62-year-old stated that Kohli made the opposition play at his pace. He said:
"He came out not like a cat on a hot tin roof. That impressed me the most. Otherwise, a batsman gets out, even before the guy walks 10 yards from the stumps, Virat is halfway down into the ground. Take your time. You are one of the best the world has seen. Let the opposition play at your pace. And that's exactly what he did in both the innings."
Shastri also noted the adjustment Kohli made to his technique after Josh Hazlewood bounced him out in the first innings.
"In the first innings, he got a good one that bounced. But what I liked immediately was the way he adapted. He went for the back in the crease to counter the bounce, six inches so that it gave him a little more time and basically his composure and the way he moved in the crease."
With India and Australia set to play the second Test in Adelaide from Friday, the former captain will look to further strengthen his record at the venue. In four Tests in Adelaide, the right-hander has accumulated 509 runs at an average of 63.63.
"You got to visualize exactly what you did" - Ravi Shastri
When asked how Kohli could continue his uptick in form, Shastri opined that he must keep note of the things he did in Perth and follow the same patterns. He said:
"Do the same things. It's very important when you waited that long. You got to visualize exactly what you did. You might not play the same way, the opposition might not bowl to you the same way as they did in that first half an hour. But the basic things that you did going out to the crease, taking your guard and what you were visualising and thinking, is very important to make a note of and do the same thing again."
With Team India holding a 1-0 lead, Australia are under immense pressure leading up to the Adelaide Test.