The memory of Herschelle Gibbs tearing apart the Australian balling line up in the chase of the then highest one score of 434 is still clear. However, after doing all the good work and scoring a mesmerizing 175, he was not able to finish the match. Enter VIRAT KOHLI. Scoring 133 against Sri Lanka and finishing it in style is something which I will rate higher than Gibbs’ innings. The score was not the only concern against Sri Lanka - the pressure of a failed batting line up in Australia, expectations back home and the ghosts of bouncy pitches of Australia. Virat Kohli defied all odds and did the impossible.
Never before had any player risen to the status of one of the bests in such style, never before had any player scored 13 centuries in just 89 matches and never before did any player cement his place in the side in such an imperious manner !!!
VIRAT PREM KOHLI is a name which would now run shivers in the Sri Lankan side for years to come. Never has one particular player been such a thorn for any side. Virat scored his first ever ODI century against Sri Lanka and has never looked back since then. Scoring 13 centuries over a period of last two and half years, Virat Kohli has undoubtedly been the best ODI batsman for Team India. Scoring 12 centuries in winning causes he created an uproar in the cricketing world.
Critics may always point out that scoring 11 out of 13 centuries in sub-continent doesn’t make a player great. True, very true… Virat has still a long way to go to be called as a cricketing LEGEND. But, there would hardly be anyone who will point out against Virat. He has been in the form of his life and his purple patch has continued for longer than anyone would have expected. Averaging more than 50 for a one down batsman is outstanding to say the least. However, success doesn’t come easy.
At the age of 18, Virat lost his father. A Ranji match between Delhi and Karnataka was going on the day this tragedy happened. Delhi’s then coach, Chetan Chauhan, had relieved Virat from his duties towards Delhi and had asked him to go for his father’s last rites. Despite being up for the most of the night and rising to his duties as a son, he nevertheless turned up for the match. Scoring a gritty 90 which helped Delhi in avoiding follow-on he left a mark of being special. Comparisons were then drawn between him and Sachin Tendulkar who had done a similar thing during the 1999 World Cup - scoring a century against Kenya after his father’s death. The innings shall forever be etched in the minds of those who witnessed it.
Captaining the U-19 Indian team and leading them to World Cup glory now seems just a beginning of an illustrious carrier which Virat seems to very well have. Despite being just 23 he has established himself as an important batsman on the team or may be the “MOST” important batsman. However, it will help to remember that he began merely as a reserve batsman. After performing decently in his first one-day series he was never given a chance considering the famed batting line up of India. He finally got his chance with a share of luck which every cricketer waits for. In his case Yuvraj Singh got injured. Virat grabbed this opportunity and scored his first ODI century and from there on, as they say, rest was history.
Kohli has been in a domineering form, tearing apart all the famous bowling line ups around the world, burying the ghosts of so-called bouncy pitches. His innings of Hobart where he scored 133 of just 86 balls may have just defined his career (which was already superbly defined before this innings). Tearing apart one of the deadliest bowlers, Malinga, he carted 24 runs of his over and made the chase of 320 runs pretty easy. And then came his top-notch innings - scoring 183 runs of just 148 balls against Pakistan. Well agreed that the Pakistan line up was new but then Pakistan has a history of producing superios fast bowlers one after another.
Now, after 13 centuries in 89 innings and with a batting average of 52, we can truly say he is the next big thing in Indian cricket. Talent was always there but unlike many players he has not (yet) thrown away his talent. Players with immense talent like Rohit Sharma have let go innumerable chances but Kohli is one of those rare breeds who create their own place in the side. Brought in as a replacement of rested or injured players, currentlyno one can even think of dropping him.
It may seem that Sachin’s golden days have been revived by this Delhiite. Till he is remains on the crease it does seem that anything is possible. Younger players should take a leaf – or even many leaves if possible - out of his book - his determination, his grit, his dedication… Age just seems to be a number for him, because he has played so many wonderful innings under pressure which would seem impossible even for the greatest of greats.
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