Virat Kohli fell 21 runs short of his 71st international hundred in the third Test.
India captain Virat Kohli was the top scorer for Team India in the first innings of the third Test match against South Africa. He contributed 79 runs off 201 deliveries on the opening day before getting out to speedster Kagiso Rabada.
Kohli batted with a strike-rate of 39.30 and he looked very focused and disciplined with his shot selection on Tuesday (January 11). He was seen leaving the threatening deliveries outside off initially in his knock.
Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir lauded Kohli for his innings and said that he kept his ego aside and scored runs on loose deliveries, instead of going after every ball.
"Virat has said many times that when you go to England, you should leave behind your ego in India. Today, Virat Kohli left behind his ego in the kit bag and this knock reminds me of his very successful tour of England, where he got beaten many times but left a lot of deliveries outside off-stump," said Gambhir on Star Sports after the end of first day's play.
"Today, in the same way, he left deliveries outside off-stump, he got beaten as well but kept his ego with himself. He did not try to dominate the bowlers on every delivery," he added.
India were bowled out for 223 runs in the first innings and they picked up 3 wickets of South Africa on 100 runs at lunch on Day 2.
(With Star Sports Inputs)