Marco Jansen also spoke about his batting performance in first ODI.
This comes after Virat Kohli hammered 135 in the first ODI between India and South Africa at Ranchi on November 30. Kohli’s 135, combined with Rohit Sharma’s 57 and KL Rahul’s 60, helped India post 349/8 in 50 overs. Marco Jansen took two wickets but went for 76 runs in his 10 overs.
Jansen commented on Kohli's match-winning century in the first ODI, saying the only realistic opportunity for a bowler is in the opening few deliveries.
“When you bowl to world-class players, it's quite difficult to get them out. I always try to get a batter in his first 10 or 15 balls. That's when they're still getting used to the wicket. But once they're in, and they get on a roll, it's very difficult to stop them. Everyone here knows how to play—that's why you go to plan B or C,” Jansen was quoted as saying by PTI.
Jansen, who first faced Kohli as a 17-year-old net bowler during India's 2017-18 tour of South Africa, described the task of bowling to one of the modern greats as both frustrating and enjoyable.
“It's nice to watch him play. Growing up watching him on TV to actually bowling to him now… it's annoying, but it's fun at the same time. He drives well, he pulls well, he cuts well, and he plays with his pads well. I don't think much has changed—he's just batting longer and longer,” he added.
In the chase of a 350-run target, South Africa was reduced to 11/3, but then Matthew Breetzke took over, scoring 72, and got support from Tony de Zorzi (39) and Dewald Brevis (37). After they were dismissed, Marco Jansen joined in and smashed 70 in 39 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes.
Even Corbin Bosch made 67 runs in the end, but South Africa was bowled out for 332 runs and lost the first ODI by 17 runs.
Regarding his own batting performance in the series, Jansen stated that the presence of an established top order has allowed him to play freely, even as he continues to make rapid progress as a lower-order hitter in the ongoing white-ball series against India.
“It's always nice to walk in when the top five are on a roll. I'm just watching the ball and playing it as it comes. At the moment, it's working for me.
We didn't bowl too badly. They got early wickets, we were on the back foot, and then we pulled it back. It's just about adding the good things on top of each other like we've been doing in the Test squad,” he said.
The second ODI between India and South Africa will be played in Raipur on December 3.
(PTI inputs)