The 32-year-old's journey in Test cricket began 10 years ago on this day, in the opening Test of an away three-match series against West Indies.
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Virat Kohli is currently leading the Indian team in the final of the maiden edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand. Kohli has looked good in the middle for Team India, curbing his natural attacking instincts to maintain a solid approach against the world-class bowling attack. While the cricketer is considered one of the best in the business when it comes to the longest format, the development took place over a period of 10 years. Kohli faced his fair share of setbacks, before developing a rock-solid technique and complete command over his craft. The 32-year-old’s journey in Test cricket began 10 years ago on this day, in the opening Test of an away three-match series against West Indies.
MS Dhoni was the captain of the team, with Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma a part of the lineup. Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay were the openers, with Kohli sent in at No.5. The West Indies lineup comprised of the likes of Ramnaresh Sarwan, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Carlton Baugh, Ravi Rampaul, Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo. All-rounder Daren Sammy was the captain of the team, with Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons the two openers.
Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat. Raina was the top run-scorer for the Indian team, accumulating 82 runs off 115 deliveries in an innings comprising of 15 boundaries. Harbhajan was the second-highest run-getter with 70 runs off 74 balls with 10 fours and a maximum to his credit. Kohli was dismissed for 4 runs off 10 deliveries, scoring his opening boundary in the longest format. The Indian team was bowled out for 246, with Edwards the pick of the bowlers having accounted for four wickets. Rampaul and Bishoo completed three dismissals apiece.
In response, the hosts were bowled out for 173 with Barath the top run-scorer for the West Indies. The opener accumulated 64 runs off 122 deliveries in an innings comprising of nine boundaries and a six. The next top run-getter was Baugh, with 27 runs off 35 balls. Praveen and Ishant were the pick of the bowlers, accounting for three wickets apiece. Spinners Mishra and Harbhajan completed two dismissals apiece.
The Indian team was bowled out for 252 in the second innings, with Dravid scoring a century (112) off 274 balls in an innings comprising of ten boundaries and a six. Mishra was the second-highest run-getter, with 28 runs off 60 deliveries in a knock which included four boundaries. Kohli was dismissed for 15 runs off 54 balls with two boundaries to his credit. Sammy and Bishoo were the pick of the bowlers, accounting for four wickets apiece.
The hosts were bowled out for 262 runs, having been handed a target of 326 runs in the second innings. Kohli completed his first catch in the longest format, accounting for the dismissal of Sarwan off Ishant. He further completed a second catch off Baugh, with Harbhajan the bowler this time. Praveen and Ishant accounted for two wickets apiece, with Mishra chipping in with two dismissals.
Skipper Dhoni was full of praise for Harbhajan’s batting, with appreciation for Praveen as well.
“I always believe our lower order can perform with the bat, and our part-timers can take wickets. We consider all XI as batsmen. Bhajji batted really well with Raina. PK is a very skilful bowler, and if there is anything for him he will make full use. That’s the main reason he got six wickets in this game. The spinners bowled decently, they can improve the line of attack. They can get slightly better. of course it was a bit difficult to bowl with the breeze,” he said as quoted by Cricinfo.
Dravid who was named as the man of the match, stated that he enjoyed the game.
“The pitch in 2006 was a lot more difficult. This was a great cricket wicket, that one had lots of shooters and lifters. Kudos to the groundmen. It’s a challenge to play Test cricket without warm-ups, but nowadays Test tours are so tight that you don’t even have side games. A bit disappointed with my shot in the first innings. Enjoying it as much as ever. Days like this, that’s what you play for,” stated the cricketer.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy urged his outfit to step up as a unit, when it came to the batting department.
“Showed again today if we bat properly, we can come out victorious. The bowling has been delivering, we need to bat well as a unit. We as batsmen when we got out there we have to focus and be mentally tougher, play the situation, think of the team.. We didn’t bowl as well as we should have to Harbhajan, and he came out and played very positive, and we reacted too late. That said, we restricted them to 246. As a batting unit, we need to do better… Bishoo has been a good asset. Can’t fault the effort of the bowlers. Ravi and Fidel came out and kept doing the job too,” read his reaction.
As Dhoni recorded his 15th triumph as a captain in a Test match, the clash gifted the longest format a batting maestro in Kohli which has been a source of great joy for fans.
