Virat Kohli has been “walking the talk” for years, according to India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer. The most recent example of this was his masterful run chase against New Zealand in the first game of the ODI series.
In the first ODI in Vadodara on Sunday, Kohli scored a fluid 93 off 91 balls as India chased down a total of 301 to win by four wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
During the innings, Kohli also became the second-highest run scorer in international cricket, after Sachin Tendulkar, and the fastest player to amass 28,000 international runs across formats.
“Whatever we talk about his innings, it would be less. We have been seeing it for so many years now he’s been doing it consistently. The way he rotates the strike and he takes on the bowlers, he basically walks the talk,” a PTI report quoted Iyer as saying in a video posted by BCCI.
Iyer said he was thrilled to start the series on a winning note after returning to international cricket after a protracted injury layoff due to a spleen laceration with internal hemorrhage experienced during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney in October last year.
“Great start to the series. Coming back after a while into the team, it feels great to be a part of this squad. More than that, it was a great feeling to share the dressing room with each and every one. I was missing it for quite a while, but I am happy to be back,” Iyer said.
Before contributing a useful 29 from 23 balls down the order, fast bowler Harshit Rana made an impression with the ball, removing openers Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls.
“The first wicket I took was of Nicholls. While I was planning to bowl wide to him but I hadn’t thought of a wide yorker but it landed right. The other wicket was of Devon Conway and it felt great to scalp two wickets in two back-to-back overs,” said Rana.
In order to contribute more at No. 8, the 24-year-old said he is working on improving his batting.
“The credit for my batting goes to my father because he always used to think that all-rounders get early chances for playing in the Indian team. I am developing my game in such a manner that I can contribute with 30-40 runs for the team, coming at number 8,” Rana added.
