Another ‘Kohli masterclass’ buries South Africa in Pune

Indian skipper Virat Kohli, on his one of the very best days, broke numerous records on the way to a career-best knock leading his team to mount a gigantic score in the first innings on the second day of the second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday.

India declared their innings at 601/5 but South Africa’s misery did not come to an end at that point as the hosts’ pacers rattled the opponent top order reducing South Africa to 36 for 3 at stumps of day two.

Theunis de Bruyn and Anrich Nortje batting on 20* and 2* respectively. Umesh Yadav took 2 for 16.

Resuming the play at 273/3, captain Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane were attached in the middle putting up a 178-run partnership before Keshav Maharaj dismissed Rahane for 59.

In the first session, Kohli reached into his 26th Test and 69th international hundred driving Vernon Philander. His epic 254 runs innings contained 33 fours and two sixes off 336 balls.

On the way to his seventh double hundred, Kohli also completed 7000 runs in Test cricket and now possess 40 hundreds in international cricket after being selected as a captain that put him just a hundred away to equal Ricky Ponting’s record of 41 hundreds in international cricket as captain.

Kohli also surpassed Bradman as he completed ninth 150-plus score in Test cricket.

Ravindra Jadeja with whom the skipper pulled a massive 225 run partnership, was just unfortunate to miss the ton losing his wicket striking 91 off 104 balls. The left-hander hit eight fours and two sixes.

What a player!@imVkohli brings up his 7th Double Hundred 👏👏#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/vDgOIRhNOW

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 11, 2019

Virat Kohli’s first test double hundred was against the West Indies in 2016. If you include that knock, 7 of his last 15 test centuries were double hundreds & another two more than 150! Incredible conversion rate!

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) October 11, 2019

The landmarks flow for Virat Kohli. Like a champion batsman he breaks a 10 innings century drought with a double. And, something that is becoming noteworthy for him, without a single six! Most doubles by an Indian now and the small matter of 7000 test runs.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 11, 2019

Captaincy never bothered you in the middle. Who said Test Cricket is not for @imVkohli 7K+ Runs in Test, 26+ Centuries, Most double hundred by an Indian and a Captain (7), Highest conversion rate next to only Bradman and counting.. Take a bow Run Machine!#KingKohli #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/fFGHdCa96O

— Vinay H N (@praptihi) October 11, 2019