Virat Kohli speaks about hitting no sixes on way to 200 and possible team combination for 2nd Test
Virat Kohli was justifiably punched after India clinched the 1st Test against West Indies at Antigua by an innings and 92 runs, although he said in the presentation ceremony afterwards that he did not know that this was India’s biggest win margin away from home. He also spoke about an exchange he had with Chief Selector Sandeep Patil after his innings, where he said why he never attempted hitting a six during his 283-ball stay.
The bulk of India’s scoring was done by Virat Kohli (200) and Ravichandran Ashwin (113). There were four sixes hit during India’s innings, none of them coming off the bat of Kohli or Ashwin. Shikhar Dhawan hit one, Wriddhiman Saha hit one and Mohammed Shami hit two.
At 70, Kohli’s strike rate was significantly higher than all other batsmen, but there were no aerial shots hit in achieving this - a proof of the level his batting technique has reached.
Kohli said,"There's a challenge for modern day batsman, the change of format is so quick that you have to adapt. If you want to be the best, adaptability is one thing you have to do well. Sandeep Patil asked me if I could hit a six through the innings and I said playing five batsmen, I can't hit sixes.”
Before the match, Kohli had said that the five batsmen would have to take added responsibility to make up for the lack of a sixth batsman, and it was he who lived up to his own promise, scoring his maiden double century. Not attempting to hit a single six was part of the different role he was playing. Despite the fact that everything seemed to be flying off his bat, he did not take the chance of getting caught in the deep and leaving his team in an uncomfortable position.
Talking about the team’s combined efforts, Kohli said that he wanted to back his players, but also that an extra spinner can be played depending on condition.
“We want to win every game we play, that's always been our vision and aim. I'm confident and aim in the skill we have. If they give us a dry wicket, three spinners come into play with Jadeja's batting. In the field we were good too, Saha with six catches.
“Shikhar was batting very well. Ashwin as well, brilliant innings down the order. And to have someone like him getting a ton down the order is wonderful. With 5 batsmen, we had to deepen the order so we had Ashwin at six. He's pretty good at both. We had a look at the wicket, our initial thought was 3 spinners, but with the amount of grass on offer we decided for 3 pacers.”